Saint-Rémy-De-Provence: Discover Culture and Nature

Saint-Rémy-De-Provence brings together ancient sites, museums, architecture and wildlife watching, as well as a weekly market. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, you can start by considering whether your trip will focus mainly on history, art and cultural heritage, landscapes or regional produce. The following sections introduce the specific highlights and point out conditions to bear in mind for certain excursions.

Ancient Roads and Glanum

A section of the Via Domitia in Saint-Rémy-De-Provence can be explored on foot or by bicycle; watch out for motor traffic. The Via Domitia trail uses educational panels to explain the construction of ancient roads, the ancient land-surveying system and the organization of road stations.

Glanum is considered a Gallic city that was first shaped by Greek influences and later by Roman ones. From the Glanum viewpoint, you can see the entire visitor trail and eight centuries of the site's history of settlement and use. The sacred spring is considered a symbol of Glanum. In the 2nd century BC, its basin was developed into a covered structure with an upper floor.

Museums and Cultural Heritage

The Musée des Alpilles is housed in the Hôtel Mistral de Mondragon, a Renaissance town house in the historic centre of Saint-Rémy-De-Provence. Its collections use a wide range of everyday objects to illustrate the close relationship between people and nature. The museum also offers visitor workshops and courses on cultural artefacts, works of art and a variety of creative techniques.

The Musée Estrine is dedicated to 20th- and 21st-century painting and graphic arts. The collegiate church of Saint-Martin is an important part of the history and cultural heritage of Saint-Rémy-De-Provence. Vincent van Gogh stayed at Saint-Paul de Mausole from 3 May 1889 to 16 May 1890, a period of one year, and painted many works there.

Nature, Forest and Lac de Peiroou

The birdwatching trail in Saint-Rémy-De-Provence passes through a protected area where short-toed snake eagles, Bonelli's eagles and Egyptian vultures are often seen. Forest covers about a quarter of the municipal area, spanning more than 1,500 hectares. A forest area in Saint-Rémy-De-Provence is part of a Natura 2000 site under the European Habitats Directive.

Lac de Peiroou was formed by a dam built in 1891 to supply the village fountains with water. Access to Lac de Peiroou is strictly regulated because of the area's ecological sensitivity and the single dead-end road leading there. Restrictions may change depending on the risk of forest fires and municipal orders, so check the current access conditions before your visit.

Market and Regional Produce

The market in Saint-Rémy-De-Provence takes place every Wednesday morning. Local olive oils, distinctive cheeses, tapenades and aromatic herbs are on offer; Provençal crafts include textiles, ceramics and soaps.

Discover more destinations: Saliers, Cuges-Les-Pins, Rognes, Saint-Marc-Jaumegarde, Raphèle-Les-Arles, Mimet, Senas, Eygalières.

Go to the main travel overview: Bouches Du Rhone.