Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is a picture-perfect, charming Provencal town filled with lovely architecture, so much art, and a long history. It’s a beautiful place to visit if you’re an admirer of Vincent van Gogh because it’s where he spent a year of his life and created some of his most famous paintings. There is something fascinating to discover on its every corner. To make planning your trip a bit easier, here is the Culture Tourist’s guide on what to see in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.
What to See in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
While walking through the Saint-Rémy’s narrow cobbled streets, you can feel the town’s long history going back to the Prehistory. Around every corner, you’ll smell the lavender and Herbes de Provence coming from numerous small shops. The windows and doors of its light-painted houses are coloured purple, green and blue. From time to time, you’ll find a picturesque square around the corner, perfect to sit and enjoy a glass of lemonade or a rosé wine.
When to Visit Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is beautiful at any time of the year, but my advice would be to visit in spring or autumn. The nature is colourful and beautiful then, with numerous flowers and various shades of green trees. However, you’ll also avoid the colder winter and busy summer months. I visited it in both spring and autumn and enjoyed the beautiful weather during my visits.
⤷ TIP: If you can, visit it on Wednesday because this is when the farmers market is organised in the city centre.
Vincent van Gogh in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
Vincent van Gogh’s life and art are strongly linked to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, making it an unmissable place to visit for anyone interested in the life and work of that famous painter. After an ear incident at the end of 1888, Van Gogh left Arles and went to the asylum for people with mental health issues in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. That’s where he spent a year of his life and where he painted some of his most famous artworks, like, for example, The Starry Night (which is exhibited at the MoMA Museum in New York today).
⤷ Read more: Art History Lesson – Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh Walk in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
To experience Saint-Rémy-de-Provence through the eyes of Vincent van Gogh, stroll along the Van Gogh Walk. It’s a path connecting the Estrine Museum and the Monastery Saint-Paul-de-Mausole. You’ll recognise it by the metal markings in the street with the word Vincent written on them.
Along the way, you’ll pass next to 19 boards with reproductions of Van Gogh’s artworks. It’s so interesting to compare his paintings with the landscape that inspired them and find so many similarities in them.
Saint-Paul-de-Mausole
The last stop of the walk is the former Medieval monastery, Saint-Paul-de-Mausole. Turned into a mental hospital, it’s a place where Van Gogh stayed between May 1889 and May 1890. It’s still used as a hospital for people with mental health issues. However, a part of it was turned into a small museum dedicated to its history and the time the famous painter spent there. You can visit a room which will show you how the space where Van Gogh stayed looked like.
The most beautiful part of it is the garden of the hospital. Filled with aromatic Provencal herbs and various plants, it was a source of inspiration for many of Van Gogh’s paintings.
⤷ Read more: Vincent van Gogh Locations in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
Museums in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
Estrine Museum
Located in the 18th-century building, the Estrine Museum is where you can learn more about the famous post-Impressionist painter at the Van Gogh Art Centre. It’s an art history museum, with a section dedicated to another artist linked to that French town, Albert Gleize. However, you’ll also get a chance to see interesting temporary art exhibitions there.
Alpilles Museum
Located in the Renaissance mansion, the Alpilles Museum explores arts, crafts and local traditions of the region around Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. You can learn more about the dinosaurs that roamed that area millions of years ago, about the Nostradamus’ prophecies, and the life in the region.
One of my favourite discoveries in that museum was typical pottery from the 19th century, the same one you can see in Van Gogh’s Sunflowers.
Centre for Ancient Archaeology – Hôtel de Sade
The archaeological museum in Saint-Rémy was originally a place where the thermal baths used to be in the 4th century AD. This is the place to go to learn more about the archaeological findings in and around Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, especially in Glanum (more about it in a bit).
⤷ TIP: You can visit it for free on the first Sunday of the month between October and April.
Other things to do in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
Glanum Archaeological Park
Founded in the 3rd century BC, Glanum used to be an important Celtic and Roman settlement. Its ruins were discovered in the early 20th century. It was an important town in the Antiquity located at the intersection of the major roads. Today, you can see the remains of its temples, houses, the sewage system, and the sacred spring. It’s well-marked with explanations of the things you’ll see, making life in one of those ancient towns more understandable.
You can climb the little hill just next to it from which you’ll have a great overview of the archaeological park and the nature surrounding it. Be sure to check their museum shop for some interesting books and lovely souvenirs. We bought some Asterix and Obelix comic books during our visit, to stay within the theme 🙂
The archaeological park is home to a cute little cafe from where you’ll have a nice view of the ruins while sitting in the shade of a tree enjoying your café au lait.
⤷ Read more: 20 Archaeological Sites You Have to Visit in Europe
Les Antiques
Located just outside the entrance to the Glanum Archaeological Site are two monuments from the Old Roman time, the mausoleum and the triumphal arch. The latter is the oldest triumphal arch in France. You don’t have to pay an entrance ticket to see them, and it will only take you a few minutes to visit these two monuments. Get closer to them and explore all the details you can spot on these fascinating sites.
⤷ TIP: Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, Glanum and Les Antiques are located next to each other, and it’s easy to visit all three of them together. My advice is to visit those three in the morning, have a lunch break, and continue exploring the sites in the centre of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence then.
Farmers market in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
Each Wednesday between 7 am and 1 pm, the city centre of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence turns into a wonderful farmers market. It’s not only where you can buy various food produce, but also local cosmetics Provence is world famous for, arts and crafts. I bought a watercolour showing the Provencal landscape the first time I visited it, and it made a great souvenir from Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.
You can buy some nice cooked food, like paella there. However, if you’d like to bring an edible souvenir back home with you, jars of honey or jam could be a nice option, too.
⤷ TIP: Get up early if you want to visit the market. It tends to get very crowded later in the morning.
Nostradamus Birth House
A well-known French physician, astrologer and apothecary, Nostradamus, was born in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. Although he worked hard towards finding a cure for the plague, he is best known today for his work “Les Prophéties“, published in 1555.
You can still see the house in which he was born in the town centre, making it an interesting site to put on your list of what to see in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.
⤷ Read more: The Most Interesting European Myths & Legends
Art Shops & Galleries
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is home to many art galleries and small shops selling artwork from local and international artists. While wandering around the town centre you’ll stumble on many of them. Some of them are organising great temporary exhibitions or selling the work of fantastic artists. So reserve some time during your visit to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence to explore these art gems within the town.
⤷ Read more: 7 Top Art Museums in Europe
A trip to the Alpilles Mountains
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is located right at the foothill of the magnificent Alpilles Mountains. If you are in good physical shape, rent a bicycle in the town centre and spend some time exploring the beautiful nature of them. You can also go on a little hiking trip in them, choosing the path by your personal preference.
⤷ Read more: Beautiful Small Towns You Should Visit in France
How to get to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
By train: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is located some 20 kilometres (12.5 miles) from Avignon TGV station. It’s a fast train service connecting it with Paris in a bit less than three hours. You can also get there by train from Marseilles.
By plane: The closest international airport is in Marseilles. You can fly there and catch a train, a bus or rent a car and drive to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence from there.
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is a true gem of Provence and a beautiful place to visit in France. It’s also a must-see place for Vincent van Gogh admirers and a wonderful location for anyone looking for a tranquil and relaxing small town to explore in Provence.