18 Hours in Saint Remy de Provence
📍 Saint Remy de Provence, France

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Trips can be too short. Sometimes you find yourself in a destination for a mere 24 hours, and it’s just not enough time! On our road trip through Provence, we had even less time while staying in the beautiful town of Saint Remy de Provence. The 18 hours here were jam-packed and very well spent. Rich with Ancient Roman landmarks, epicurean delights, and artful history, there’s something here that every kind of traveler can enjoy. Here’s just a quick look at our 18 hours in Saint Remy de Provence.

Daydream in the Town Square

We arrived at Saint Remy de Provence sun-kissed after an incredible lunch at a nearby winery. Knowing we had such little time to explore and see the town, we hit the ground running. Like many European towns, the pulse of Saint Remy is in the historic center. Amongst the narrow streets, you can wander by seemingly endless boutiques. Here you can also find the birthplace of 16th-century author Nostradamus at a fairly nondescript apartment on Rue Hoche. Just be sure to finish your shopping by 7:00 pm. The businesses close up as soon as the clock strikes, and dinner service begins for many locals.

Stay at Le Saint-Rémy

Le Saint-Rémy Hotel was our overnight home for the evening, and I cannot recommend it enough! This luxury, 31-room hotel is located right in the heart of town and housed in a spacious 19th-century townhouse. The understated glamour and effortlessly bohemian aesthetic made it feel more like a spa retreat! Perched above the outdoor terrace is a heated rooftop pool with several cabanas and excellent sun. I only wished I could have stayed here for just a few more days to really unwind.

Relax at the Bar Lounge

After a full day of exploring in the sun, I was really looking forward to a relaxed and mellow dinner. While Saint Remy de Provence has several Michelin-starred restaurants in town, we opted for cocktails and tapas at the Bar Lounge of our hotel. We sat in plush seats in their beautiful courtyard and watched the laidback nightlife begin. If you want a little more evening activity, look no further than the courtyard’s pétanque court. Similar to bocce, it’s an easy way to chat with the other guests and let your competitive side come out.

Walk the Van Gogh Trail

Le Saint-Rémy just had such an incredible location! In fact, it’s situated directly on the Van Gogh Trail. At a leisurely pace, you can be at the Monastery Saint-Paul de Mausole in just 15 minutes. Walk a little further, and you’ll see the elements of the town’s Roman Empire history come to life. Saint Remy de Provence is actually on the same site as the ancient city of Glanum. It was pivotal to connect France and Spain to Rome. Not much is left of Glanum, which was destroyed in 260 AD, but you can still find incredibly well-preserved monuments, including the triumphal arch. If you want to experience both the Van Gogh Trail and Glanum Monuments but are really short on time, you can rent an electric bike from the hotel.

Although we’ve been home from Provence for nearly a month, I daydream about the region almost daily. When planning your trip, it’s important to understand what makes each town, village, or commune unique. With Saint Remy de Provence, you get an incredible combination of history, food, and art. Visiting this stunning town was an incredible experience that I will never forget.

Love from France,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

Walking with Van Gogh
📍Saint Remy de Provence, France

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While researching for our trip to Provence, it felt like a big undertaking. It’s a large region that spans from the Southern Alps to resorts along the Mediterranean. I wanted to see as much as possible. A particular town that really spoke to me was the beautiful Saint Remy de Provence. Just south of Avignon, I knew it would be a perfect addition to our Provencal road trip. While there’s so much to see and explore in town, the most noteworthy attraction is the Van Gogh Walk.

Since I would list Vincent Van Gogh as my favorite artist, I was so excited to see the town and landscape that helped inspire so many of his works. Although the artist only lived here for a year, May 1889-May 1890, it’s where he painted over 150 canvases, including Starry Night. Along the Van Gogh Walk, you’ll find 19 markers that outline his career with prints of his most beloved works. The route takes you from the town center in Saint Remy de Provence to the Monastery Saint-Paul de Mausole. A self-admitted patient for most of his year in town, this happened shortly after the infamous “ear” incident.

Interestingly, Monastery Saint-Paul de Mausole is still a working hospital, but there are certain wings that you are free to explore. The cloisters and interior garden act as the resident art museum, with exhibitions rotating frequently. Many of these artists are local and directly inspired by Van Gogh’s work. Continue through the former monastery, up the narrow stairs, and you’ll find Van Gogh’s former bedroom. It had direct views of the lavender fields below, and Van Gogh could often be found painting there. Because the hospital was only half occupied in the summer of 1889, he was given an additional room on the ground floor to act as his studio.

From start to finish, our entire excursion took about an hour. The weather couldn’t have been prettier, and I protected myself from the sun with an oversized sunhat. As a lover of art, I’m so happy we made this detour to stand where Van Gogh stood. It was so powerful to see in person the cypress trees and swirling landscapes that make him a feature in every great art museum. If you stand and admire the scenery long enough, you may just begin seeing the world from a brand new perspective.

Sometimes travel is all about being on the go and adapting to the hustle of a city. In Saint Remy de Provence, it was a treat to slow down and really take the time to ‘stop and smell the roses.’ However, in Van Gogh’s case, it may be more about the irises. 

Love from France,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

Antiquing in L’isle de la Sorgue
📍 L’isle de la Sorgue, France

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Our adventure in the Provence region of France continues with L’isle de la Sorgue. Because the River Sorgue runs through the center of town and offers waterfront dining, it is often lovingly known as the Venice of Provence. This small town is best known for its antique stores and vintage markets that open along the river on the weekends. Even though there was limited space in my checked bag, I found it to be such a pleasure to make time for some antiquing and finding plenty of home inspiration.

A Leisure Drive to L’isle de la Sorgue

From our hotel in Gordes, we drove through the stunning Provençal countryside. It seemed like the whole world was a vibrant shade of green, with so many farms, vineyards, and a smattering of beautiful maisons. Since I wanted to get to our destination as quickly as possible and potentially beat some of the crowds, we didn’t make any stops along the way. I did make a few mental notes for our next trip. I would love to stop at the small wineries to experience the best that the region offers.

Visiting the Many Antique Stores

With the small town beginning to come to life, so too did the 300 plus antique shops that call L’isle de la Sorgue home. Because we were there at the start of the day, many stores were just beginning to open. That gave us first looks at countless treasures. An entire day can be dedicated to perusing through, and you still won’t cover everything. While my bags were already fully packed with goodies from Paris, many shops offer international shipping and create a custom quote for you on the spot. This may be the best way to ensure that all of your antique finds, large and small, make it safely home.

Croissants at Cafe de France

Hunting for antiques can create quite an appetite! After a short shopping spree and walk through town, we grabbed a table at Cafe de France on the Pl. de la Liberté. The town square was beginning to buzz, and the spot made for incredible people-watching. Sitting under the shadow of Église Notre-Dame-des-Anges, we sincerely enjoyed our coffee and second croissant of the day. Inside was a belle epoque inspired bar I wanted to spend more time at. Again, I wondered about vacationing here full time. Such is the life when you visit a place as wonderful as Provence. 

Lunch at Café Fleurs

After croissants, lunch was not far behind. I had heard such wonderful things about Café Fleurs. Located right along the Sorgue River, I can’t think of a better place to dine and take in the view. You can expect perfectly made French dishes with just a bit of a global twist. The menu was entirely in French, and I had to trust my limited language skills and intuition while ordering. I made the right call! Out came an herb-encrusted steak with a delicious garlic sauce that I want to accompany every meal now. It was a big lunch, but that’s often a French mindset: light breakfast, heavy lunch, and light dinner.

Sorbet to Beat the Heat

So many great meals ended with dessert, and I wanted to grab a cool treat to help fight the warm mistral winds. On our way back to the rental car, we popped into an ice cream shop, locally known as a glacier. Even though there were a variety of flavors, I knew my choices as soon as I laid eyes on it… Strawberry-Basil and Fig. Delicious and refreshing, I felt like a kid again as I raced to eat the glace before it began to melt. I promise I shared with David, although I think he should have ordered his own cup. 

So with very full stomachs and even fuller hearts, we made our way home from Antiquing in L’isle de la Sorgue to Gordes. Our day in this artistic town was, in a word, perfect! Up next, I’ll share some details on our next Provence town that

Love from France,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.