Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is the small capital of the Alpilles, between Avignon and Arles. Its old town, encircled by a ring of plane-tree-lined boulevards, is home to townhouses and fountains; to the south, the limestone range fills the horizon.
Choosing where to stay in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence means deciding between the village, where you can get around on foot, and the countryside, where a few kilometres on the road buy you a pool and some peace and quiet. Here are places we have hand-picked one by one; you can find the full list on our page of places to stay in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.
Which area should you stay in?
Hotels, holiday homes and guesthouses account for almost equal shares of the accommodation, with three distinct ways to stay:
- Old town: inside the boulevards, among lanes, galleries and terraces; ideal without a car, although nearby car parks fill up quickly in summer.
- Nearby avenues: ten or fifteen minutes on foot from the centre, with houses and gardens that are quieter in the evening.
- Countryside: country houses among olive groves and windbreaks of cypress, often with a pool; a car is essential.
For a weekend, the centre is the obvious choice: dine on a terrace and walk back. For a week in summer, a house with a pool makes up for the drives, especially as nearby villages are best visited by car.
Staying in the village and just beyond it
These three places let you forget about the car once it is parked.
La Maison du Village
A guesthouse tucked into the lanes, a few minutes’ walk from the old town, with air-conditioned suites, a garden and a terrace. Gluten-free breakfast is also available. The place to choose for couples who want to explore Saint-Rémy on foot.
Le petit hotel
A welcoming four-star hotel on avenue Fauconnet, a stone’s throw from the old town, with a garden and a heated pool in season. The rooms are air-conditioned, and massages are available on site. A good option for anyone who wants hotel services and terraces within walking distance.
Le Mazet de Lola
A holiday home with a private pool, garden, terrace and fully equipped kitchen, on avenue du Souvenir-Français, less than a kilometre from the centre. It’s a rare combination: your own pool about ten minutes’ walk from the boulevards. It’s better suited to a self-catering stay than an overnight stop.
Country houses and homes in the countryside
Beyond the boulevards, you’ll find cypress-lined lanes and olive groves. These places are for those looking for a pool, space and quiet nights.
Mas des IRIS
A guesthouse on the northern edge of the village, on the road to Avignon, a kilometre and a half from the centre. An outdoor pool, garden and rooms with balconies overlooking the greenery promise peaceful afternoons. The centre is about a 20-minute walk away, but in the evening a car or bike is more practical.
Mas de l'Estello B&B "L'Esterelle"
A bed and breakfast in the nearby countryside, on chemin des Mattouins, a little over a kilometre from the centre. The patio looks out over the garden and pool, which is open only in the warmer months, and breakfast is served in your room. Free private parking makes it easy to explore nearby villages.
Bastidon Résidence les Alpilles
An independent 50 m² bastidon for four, with a private pool, terrace and kitchenette, three or four kilometres from the village. It suits a family with two children or two couples travelling together. A car is essential, and the kitchenette is better suited to simple meals than elaborate dinners.
What to see in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
South of the village, the archaeological site of Glanum brings together the remains of a Gallic oppidum that became a Roman town. Opposite, the Antiques—a Roman arch and the Mausoleum of the Julii—were the only visible remains of the city until the first excavations in 1921.
Close by, the monastery of Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, with its Lombard bell tower and Romanesque cloister, was home to Van Gogh from May 1889 to May 1890: he painted more than a hundred works there, including The Starry Night. The institution still cares for patients, and part of it is open to visitors.
In the centre, the Musée des Alpilles occupies the Hôtel Mistral de Mondragon, a 16th-century Renaissance residence, while the Hôtel de Sade houses objects found at Glanum. The Musée Estrine is devoted to modern and contemporary art, not far from the birthplace of Nostradamus, who was born here in 1503.
Nearby
- Les Baux-de-Provence: a hilltop village perched on a rocky spur in the Alpilles, about ten kilometres away, with its ruined castle and the Carrières de Lumières.
- Eygalières: a hilltop village to the east, with the Chapelle Saint-Sixte standing alone in the fields.
- Tarascon, Avignon and Arles: the Château du Roi René, the Palais des Papes and Roman monuments, all about a half-hour’s drive away.
When to visit Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
Spring and early autumn are the most pleasant seasons, with mild days and opportunities for hiking in the Alpilles. Summer is hot and very busy: from 1 June to 30 September, access to the hills in Bouches-du-Rhône depends on the fire risk, with a map published each evening at around 6 pm for the following day.
All year round, the Wednesday morning market fills Place de la République and the lanes of the old town. Every year on Whit Monday, the Transhumance festival brings herds parading along the boulevards, while the féria livens up the village in mid-August: book early for these dates.
Getting there and getting around
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence has no train station. The nearest stations are in Avignon, about 20 kilometres to the north: Avignon-Centre and the TGV station, with services from Paris.
The regional ZOU! network’s 707 bus connects Avignon bus station to Saint-Rémy in about 50 minutes, then continues through the villages of the Alpilles to Arles. Some services do not run on Sundays.
Once there, you can explore the centre on foot; for country houses and nearby villages, a car is the easiest option. Find other bases on our Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur page.
Saint-Rémy is part of our guide to where to stay in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. You can also read where to stay in Avignon, beneath the Palais des Papes, where to stay in Arles, on the Rhône, and where to stay in Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, in the Camargue.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the most frequently asked questions.
What is the best area to stay in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence?
For most travellers, it’s the old town and the avenues around it: restaurants, museums and the Wednesday market are all within walking distance, while Glanum and Saint-Paul-de-Mausole are about a 20-minute walk away. Those arriving by car who want a pool and quiet nights may prefer a country house a few kilometres away, at the foot of the Alpilles.
Can you visit Saint-Rémy-de-Provence without a car?
Yes, if you stay in the village or just beyond it. Saint-Rémy has no train station, but the ZOU! network’s 707 bus connects it to Avignon bus station in about 50 minutes and continues to Arles. Some services do not run on Sundays. The centre, Glanum and Saint-Paul-de-Mausole can be reached on foot; a car is more practical for isolated country houses.
How many days should you spend in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence?
Two days are enough for the village: spend one morning at Glanum and the Antiques, another at Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, then visit the museums and lanes in the centre. With three or four days, Saint-Rémy makes a good base for Les Baux-de-Provence, Eygalières, Tarascon, Avignon or Arles. For a week, a country house with a pool lets you alternate morning excursions with peaceful afternoons.
When is the best time to visit Saint-Rémy-de-Provence?
Spring and early autumn, with mild days and opportunities for hiking in the Alpilles. Summer is hot, and access to the hills is regulated from 1 June to 30 September depending on the fire risk. The Transhumance festival takes place every Whit Monday and the féria in mid-August; the market is held every Wednesday morning.
Where can you stay with a pool in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence?
Pools are mostly found at country houses and homes in the countryside, such as Mas des IRIS, Mas de l'Estello and Bastidon Résidence les Alpilles, the last of which has a private pool. Within walking distance of the boulevards, Le Mazet de Lola has its own pool, and Le petit hotel offers a heated pool in season. Check the pool opening dates before booking.
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