LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
in the Alpilles & Luberon
Les Baux de Provence
12 min. from Fontvieille
Classified as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France, Les Baux de Provence boasts breathtaking hilltop views, superb dining options and charming cobblestone streets sprinkled with local craft & souvenir shops. Dine alfresco and enjoy the spectacular view from any of the villages hilltop restaurants. If you prefer to eat indoors, Restaurant de la Reine Jeanne is a great option. Be sure to hike to the top of the village for the most amazing panoramic view of the region below. If you have time, tour the medieval fortress Citadelle des Baux which is also perched here.
Carrières de Lumières
12 min. from Fontvieille
At the foot of Les Baux-de-Provence is the Carrieres de Lumieres (quarry of lights). Here in a vacant hillside limestone quarry, vast images are projected on the rock walls, with a new art theme every year. Past subjects include van Gogh, Monet, Gauguin, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. It's cool year-round in the quarry, so even in summer you need more than a t-shirt.
St. Rémy de Provence
20 min. from Fontvieille
St Remy is by far one of our favorite towns in Provence. It’s a swish town lined with plane trees and full of charm, restaurants and interesting shops. Saint Remy was also home to a variety of famous people such as Nostradamus, Gertrude Stein, Vincent van Gogh and Princess Caroline.
EXPLORING ST REMY
The old part of St Remy is clustered in the middle, within the road that circles it, and the parts of the 14th century defensive wall that remain. This makes it effectively a compact village to walk through and explore. Take any of the roads that crisscross the center, you will not be disturbed by traffic as you wander through picturesque squares and alleyways.
MARKET DAY IN ST REMY
Market day in St Remy is Wednesday (morning), and this is a great time to visit, as the squares are taken over by stall-holders selling colorful produce, candles, olives, cheese knives, market baskets and so much more.
ART & HISTORY IN ST REMY
Place Flavier is an archetypal St Remy square, with its fountain and plane trees, cobbled street and pleasing facades. In Place Flavier are a couple of museums: The Musee des Alpilles is housed in a Renaissance mansion and focuses on local traditions and folklore, including Nostradamus’s prophecies. Alongside is the Musee Archeologique, in the 15th century Hotel de Sade on rue du Parage.
GLANUM ROMAN RUINS
Glanum is a remarkable site, offering a fascinating glimpse of Roman life. Half a mile south of St Remy on the road to Les Baux, just on the side of the road, unprotected and freely accessible, you come across perhaps the best preserved Roman cenotaph in the world, as well as a triumphal arch celebrating Caesar’s victory over the Gauls. To learn more about the Glanum Roman Ruins, click here.
Arles
25 min. from Fontvieille
Arles is a city on the Rhône River in the Provence region of southern France. It's famed for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh, which influenced the contemporary art displayed at the Fondation Vincent Van Gogh. Once a provincial capital of ancient Rome, Arles is also known for many remains from that era, including Arles Amphitheatre (les Arènes d'Arles), now hosting plays, concerts and bullfights.
Avignon
30 min. from Fontvieille
Avignon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site set on the Rhône River. From 1309 to 1377, this walled city was the seat of the Catholic popes and it remained under papal rule until becoming part of France in 1791. This legacy can be seen in the massive Palais des Papes (Popes' Palace) in the city center, which is still surrounded by medieval stone ramparts.
Modern-day Avignon is considered a lively city with the buzz of a world-famous arts festival in the summer. Everything of interest is inside the walls of the city so it is small enough to explore on foot. There is nothing planned about the layout of Avignon and as a result you can wander the maze of streets discovering cobbled squares, beautiful churches, unusual little museums, and a rich spread of restaurants and cafes.
Pont du Gard Aqueduct
35 min. from Fontvieille
Pont du Gard is located near Avignon and is the most famous and impressive surviving Roman aqueduct. Built around 19 B.C., the Pont du Gard is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is actually a bridge over the Gardon River. The most scenic surviving link of the 30-mile structure supports a small canal which, by dropping one inch for every 100 yards, supplied nine million gallons of water per day (about 100 gallons per second) to Nimes, one of ancient Europe’s largest cities. It is open year around from 9am.
Nearby, you can rent a kayak and stop near the Pont du Gard to cool off with a swim or enjoy a picnic on the banks of the river. Here you'll also find an olive tree that was planted in 908, making it over 1100 years old.
Alpilles Natural Regional Park
30 min. from Fontvieille
The Alpilles Natural Park is a mountainous nature reserve with marked trails for hiking, biking & horseback riding. Click here for an interactive map of the park offerings.
Luberon Villages & Market Days
35 min. from Fontvieille
If you're willing to leave the Baux de Provence region, we suggest spending a day (or several) in the Luberon.
Some of our fondest memories are of the days we've shared exploring the hilltop villages of this magical region. The charming villages of the Luberon are centuries-old, dating back to the middle ages, and can be found nestled in the rocky hills that characterize the area. Often dramatically perched atop narrow strips of land, some villages command superb views over the vast groves and vineyards below.
Each village is different from the last and hosts its own market day throughout the week, offering items like fresh goat cheese straight from the local farmer, olives and oils, dried lavender, soaps, candles, artwork, woven baskets, antiques, and the list goes on and on. This region allows visitors to enjoy a variety of experiences within quite a small area of the region. Keep in mind a large part of the charm in the South of France is the slow pace of life. Come with a leisurely mindset & no agenda to enjoy all this area has to offer.
- OUR FAVORITE LUBERON VILLAGES -
Gordes
Hilltop village with amazing views and one of our engagement photo session locales. Officially one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France.
Market Day: Tuesday
Don't miss:
Sénanque Abbey - A 12th century Cistercian abbey with epic lavender fields. See below for more.
Airelles Gordes, La Bastide - Stop in for a cocktail on the terrace of this 5-star hotel and watch the sunset over a panoramic view of the Luberon.
Roussillon
Built upon an ochre quarry that is one of the largest ochre deposits in the world. The vibrant orange, red and dusty pink hues of the buildings situated here are due to the ochre deposits surrounding it.
Market Day: Thursday
Don't miss:
Les Sentier des Ocres - A looped walk offering panoramic views and a close-up of the ochre this village is famous for!
Art Galleries - Roussillon is full of galleries and has long been home to artists who who create their work using pigments of earth found in the village.
Ice Cream - This village is full of little ice cream & gelato shops. We had the best Lavender Ice Cream here!
L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
Jordan's all-time favorite village, L'Isle-sur-Sorgue is an incredibly easy walking town known for its antiques stores, weekend markets, and waterwheels on the Sorgue river. Visit the bustling riverside market on Sunday mornings and experience the largest display of antiques in Provence!
Market Day: Sunday
Don't miss:
The Sunday Market at L'Isle sur Sorge is an absolute MUST if you are visiting the Luberon.
Campredon Art Center - 18th-century mansion that displays contemporary works.
Collégiale Notre Dame des Anges - a baroque church with frescoes.
Bonnieux
Officially named one of The Most Beautiful Villages in France, Bonnieux has one of the best views out across the valley floor with its patchwork of orchards and vineyards. This village has plenty of restaurants and cafes to choose from and a really good market on Friday morning.
Market Day: Friday
Don't miss:
Stop for a pizza lunch between 12-2pm at La Terrazza and enjoy one of the best views of the region from their hillside dining terrace.
Au Détour d'une Promenade - One of our favorite antique shops! Owned by the sweetest couple.
Musée de la Boulangerie - the bread museum, will tell you all about how bread is made in the artisanal manner.
Ménerbes
A beautiful, quiet, medieval village, exquisitely poised over the Luberon valley. Home to the late Peter Mayle, one of our favorite authors.
Market Day: Thursday
Don't miss:
Maison de la truffe et du vin - House of truffles and wine. Has gorgeous views!
Castellet - A 15th Century fortress
Musee du Tire Bouchon - A quirky museum all about corkscrews
La Bastide de Marie - one of our best meals of all time was had here.
Lourmarin
Named officially as one of The Most Beautiful Villages in France, Lourmarin is known for its cafe culture and restaurants galore. Pay a visit to the 12thC castle on the edge of town - in the summer you can catch a concert!
Market Day: Friday
Don't miss:
Some of the best things to do in Lourmarin: wander the streets, shop in the village boutiques, have a michelin starred dinner or enjoy the summer sunset from a sidewalk cafe.
Château de Lourmarin - used for concerts and exhibitions. There are guided tours of the chateau and its art, including some engravings by Piranesi.
A note of precaution: we recommend comfortable shoes when visiting the Luberon villages and do not recommend this activity for those who have trouble walking, as most date back to the middle ages, are constructed of cobblestone streets and require some climbing of stairs & hills.
Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque
35 min. from Fontvieille
Just below the village of Gordes, deep in a Provençal valley, is the Sénanque Abbey. This 12th century Cistercian abbey is the home to monks who still live and worship here. The monks also harvest honey and plant & cultivate fields of lavender, which are absolutely stunning when in bloom. It’s well worth the visit, and we recommend visiting the gift shop for some of the finest lavender products you won't find anywhere else.