The Estrine Museum
This museum dedicated to Vincent Van Gogh is housed in an 18th century edifice. Visitors can find out about this exceptional artist, who lived in Saint-Rémy for a year, and his influence on 20th and 21st century art. The museum’s permanent collection also includes work by other artists such as Bernard Buffet and Albert Gleizes, and there are two or three temporary exhibitions a year.
Archaeological Site of Glanum
These Roman ruins near to Saint-Rémy date back to about 100BC although it is thought there was a native population here from about 500BC. Around 260AD, the town was destroyed by barbarian invasions but the survivors founded a village nearby that was to become Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. The ruins were uncovered in the early 20th century, and include some superb classical architecture.
Les Baux de Provence
This nearby village is a truly magnificent site, a fortified castle and medieval village perched atop a tall spur of rock with sheer cliffs on three sides, allowing superb views on a clear day down to Arles and the Camargue. Featuring on the ‘most beautiful villages in France’ list, there is some beautiful architecture to see but also just the lovely atmosphere of an authentic Provençal village with pleasant terrace cafés and art galleries to browse. Close by, a unique experience awaits at the Carrières de Lumières, a former quarry converted into a multimedia centre, where still and moving images are projected onto all the walls and floors, with musical accompaniment.
Get active
The Alpilles natural park is on your doorstep, a chain of limestone mountains whose lower slopes are covered with Mediterranean oaks, poplars and pine trees, giving way to ‘garrigue’ heath and grasslands dotted with aromatic plants such as rosemary, thyme and lavender. There are great opportunities for wildlife spotting, walking and mountain biking, as well as more adventurous activities.
Festivals
The ‘Transhumance’ festival, held in St Rémy de Provence on Pentecost Monday, honours the age-old tradition of moving livestock to their summer grazing pastures on higher ground. There are food stalls and activities alongside the main event of the flocks being herded through the village.
The Saint Rémy de Provence ‘Feria’ is held over several days in mid August, revolving around the traditional customs of the Camargue: bull runs and contests (the bulls are not killed), horsemanship displays, costumes, plus music, food and dancing.
