Bonjour! Welcome to Saint Remy de Provence, one of the most picturesque towns in Provence. With its pretty streets, impressive Roman ruins, and landscapes that inspired Van Gogh’s most famous paintings, this little gem offers a magic that’s hard to resist. It’s one of those places where everything feels beautiful, calm, and effortlessly French. Whether you’re planning a day trip or a longer stay, Saint-Remy is a delightful destination you won’t want to miss. Keep reading to discover the best things to do in Saint Remy de Provence, France.
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Saint Remy de Provence, France FAQ
Saint Remy is located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region in southeastern France, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department. It sits in the heart of the Alpilles Natural Regional Park. Saint Remy is a popular stop during a Provence road trip or a scenic day trip from nearby towns like Arles, Avignon, or Aix-en-Provence.
Without a doubt! Whether you want to follow in Van Gogh’s footsteps, explore a 2000-year-old Roman city, wander through charming old-town streets, or admire the peaceful countryside, St Remy de Provence has something to delight every traveler. It’s no surprise it’s considered one of the most beautiful villages in Provence!
Saint-Rémy is best known for being the place where Vincent van Gogh spent a year at Saint-Paul de Mausole asylum and painted over 150 works, including the iconic “The Starry Night”. The town is also famous for the impressive Roman archaeological site of Glanum, being the birthplace of Nostradamus, and its lively Provençal market.
St Remy de Provence is a small town, so one day is enough to see all its highlights, including Glanum, the Van Gogh walking trail, and dinner at one of the local restaurants. But if you want to experience its charm even more, staying overnight will be a great idea! Saint Remy also makes a great base for exploring the region.
Things to do in Saint Remy de Provence, France
Saint Remy old town streets
There’s no better way to experience the charm of Saint-Remy than by slowly strolling through its beautiful streets. The town is compact and easy to navigate, making it a pleasure to explore at your own pace. Take your time wandering along tree-lined streets, admiring stone and pastel-painted houses, and enjoying a coffee on a sunny terrace while soaking up the vibe.
In St Remy de Provence you’ll find points of interest like:
- Place Jules Pelissier – a lovely square shaded by oak trees, home to the Town Hall, a pretty fountain, cozy cafés, and small boutique shops.
- Place Favier – a picturesque little square with a beautiful fountain, surrounded by charming buildings, a few restaurants, and the Alpilles Museum.
- Saint-Martin Church – the main church in Saint Remy, built in the Neoclassical style with an elegant dome, decorated archways, and a tower, is located at the back of the church which is the last remaining part of the original structure.
- Nostradamus fountain – a small fountain dedicated to Nostradamus, tucked away at the corner of Rue Nostradamus and Rue Carnot. It features a bust of the famous physician, astrologer, and prophet born in Saint-Remy in 1503 (you can also see a house where he was born).
- Estrine Museum – a great place to learn more about Van Gogh’s time in Saint Remy. Located in an elegant 18th-century mansion, the museum features a permanent exhibition about Van Gogh’s life (though it doesn’t display original paintings) and rotating modern art exhibits. It’s also the official starting point of the Van Gogh Trail.
- Alpilles Museum – an ethnological museum offering a fascinating glimpse into local history, culture, and traditions. The exhibits cover everything from prehistoric times through the Roman era to traditional Provençal life, including displays on agriculture, local trades, folklore, and bullfighting costumes.
In addition to the main landmarks, in Saint-Remy you’ll also find many art galleries, small boutique shops, and cozy cafés perfect to pause and enjoy the town’s vibe. Simply strolling around is one of the best things to do in Saint Remy de Provence.
Saint Remy Tourist Office is located on Place Jean Jaurès, just a short walk from Place Jules Pelissier. It’s a great place to grab a map and get useful sightseeing information.
Travel tip. If you’re visiting St Remy de Provence on Wednesday, don’t miss the weekly market. It fills Place de la République and surrounding streets from about 7 am to 1 pm. There, you’ll find everything from fresh fruits and local produce to handmade crafts and lavender products.
Glanum Archaeological Site
Located just 1km from the old town of St Remy de Provence, Glanum is one of the most impressive Roman archaeological sites in France. This ancient city dates back to the 6th century BC when it was founded by the Salyens, a Gallic Celtic-Ligurian tribe who settled here thanks to the rich soil and natural spring. From the 2nd century BC onward, the town’s development was strongly influenced by Greek culture.
Later, following Julius Caesar’s conquest of Gaul in 49 BC, Glanum became a prosperous Roman city. However, around 260 AD it was destroyed during Germanic invasions, and gradually abandoned. The site remained forgotten until 1921, when archaeologists began systematic excavations that revealed the city’s incredible past.
Today, exploring Glanum is one of the most fascinating things to do in Saint Remy de Provence. On site, you’ll find remarkably well-preserved remains, including the forum, basilica, temples, thermal baths, residential houses, and the sacred spring that drew settlers here for centuries. Glanym is arranged along a central street, making it easy to imagine life in this bustling Roman city. Oh, and don’t miss the wonderful viewpoint from a higher point.
Entrance to Glanum costs €9 and is free for children under 18 years old (December 2025). For current prices, opening hours, and online tickets, visit the site-glanum.fr website.
Antiquities of Glanum
Right at the entrance to the Glanum, you’ll find two well-preserved Roman monuments standing freely beside the road. They are known as Antiquities of Glanum (fr. Les Antiques de Glanum), and are considered some of the finest examples of Roman architecture in Provence. Antiques can be visited at any time for free and visiting them is one of the best things to do in Saint Remy de Provence.
The Mausoleum is a 18-meter tall funeral monument dating from 30-20 BC, built to honor members of the local Julii family who received Roman citizenship for fighting with Caesar’s army. Next to it stands the Triumphal Arch, dating from around 20 AD. Its beautifully carved bas-reliefs still depict scenes from Caesar’s conquest of Gaul.
Van Gogh Trail & Saint-Paul de Mausole
One of the most memorable things to do in Saint Remy de Provence is following in the footsteps of Vincent van Gogh. A self-guided Van Gogh walking trail connects the town center with the Monastery Saint-Paul de Mausole. Along the 1-kilometre path, you’ll find panels displaying reproductions of Van Gogh’s paintings placed right beside the actual landscapes that inspired them.
In May 1889, after the infamous ear-cutting incident in Arles, Van Gogh voluntarily admitted himself to the Saint-Paul de Mausole asylum. He spent exactly one year here, and surprisingly it was one of the most productive periods of his life. Van Gogh created nearly 900 works in total, and around 150 of them were painted during his year in St Remy de Provence. An extraordinary output in such a short time!
Today, you can visit the Monastery Saint-Paul de Mausole, which still functions as a psychiatric hospital, and see the room where Van Gogh stayed, the beautiful 12th-century cloister, and the gardens that inspired many of his works.
In 2026, an entrance to Monastery Saint-Paul de Mausole costs €9 for a normal ticket, and €6.5 for a reduced one. For current prices, and opening hours, visit the saintpauldemausole.fr website.
Saint-Remy Surroundings
Although there are many wonderful things to do in Saint Remy de Provence, the town also makes a fantastic base for exploring the surrounding region. Whether you love history, nature, charming villages, vibrant cities, or enjoying a glass of local wine, you’ll find plenty of fantastic day trips from Saint Remy.
Just a short drive away, you’ll find some of the most picturesque Provencal villages, like Les Baux-de-Provence, Gordes, Roussillon, Menerbes, or L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. Bigger, lively cities such as Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Arles, and Nimes are also within about an hour’s drive.
And if you’re a nature lover or an active traveler, don’t miss hiking in the Alpilles, mountain range surrounding St Remy de Provence. Most trails are easy to moderate, making them accessible for casual hikers.
How to get to Saint Remy de Provence, France?
St Remy de Provence is located about 10km from Les Baux, 25km from Arles or Avignon, 40km from Gordes, and 80km from Aix-en-Provence. The most convenient way to get to Saint Remy is by car or bus.
Where to park in Saint Remy de Provence?
In Saint Remy we recommend leaving a car in the large and free Parking Liberation, located right next to the entrance to the historic centre.
To Saint Remy de Provence by public transport
The fastest way of getting directly to St Remy de Provence is by bus. You won’t have too much trouble with it from nearby places like Les Baux, Arles, Avignon, or Nimes. Although keep in mind that the trip might sometimes take a long time. As for trains, the closest train stations are located in Arles and Avignon, and from there you can take a bus to Saint Remy.
To learn more about connections that might interest you, visit the regional transport website Zou for buses, and sncf-connect.com for trains. For all available connections, visit the rome2rio.com website.
Camping Saint Remy de Provence
If you’re traveling by camper, places like Camping A La Ferme or Camping Parc de la Bastide might interest you. They are located close to Saint Remy.
To Saint Remy with guided tour
If you don’t want to put too much effort into planning, you can always take advantage of the guided tours and let someone else take care of all the details of your visit to Saint Remy.
If you’re staying in Aix-en-Provence, we recommend taking part in this popular Arles, Les Baux, & Saint-Rémy Full-Day Trip. And from Avignon, you can choose this interesting In the Footsteps of Van Gogh Tour – perfect for art lovers!
Explore local attractions
Things to do in Saint Remy de Provence – Summing up
As you can see, St Remy de Provence is so much more than just a pretty town – it’s a place full of rich history, artistic heritage, natural beauty, and unforgettable experiences. From impressive Roman ruins and Van Gogh’s landscapes to a charming old town and scenic countryside, there’s no shortage of things to do in Saint Remy de Provence.
Whether you’re visiting for a few hours or using the town as a base to explore Provence, we’re sure Saint Remy will capture your heart. Enjoy your time & bon voyage!
Our opinion about St Remy de Provence
For us, a visit to Saint Remy de Provence was a day trip from nearby Orgon where we lived for a few weeks. We visited in mid-May, and during that time the town was peaceful with not many other visitors around. Exploring everything we wanted took us about 5 hours.
We really liked St Remy de Provence – the town actually exceeded our expectations! The old town is delightful – sophisticated, charming, and not overly touristy. Wandering around its streets was a pure pleasure. We also enjoyed the Van Gogh Trail; even though we’re not big art fans, the beautiful views along the route made it a nice experience. But after reading reviews of the asylum we decided not to visit.
But it was the Glanum that impressed us most! It was only the second time we’d ever seen such extensive ancient ruins (the first was Ancient Kamiros on Rhodes). We loved wandering through the ruins and imagining what life was like 2000 years ago. The site is wonderfully preserved and the setting at the foot of the Alpilles is stunning!
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to sleep in Saint Remy de Provence?
Where to eat in Saint Remy de Provence?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Saint Remy de Provence:
