Eygalières

Eygalieres is a small perched village on the northern edge of the Alpilles in Provence, a short drive from Saint-Remy, and one of the more discreet addresses in the region. The old village climbs a rocky spur to the ruins of a medieval keep, with narrow stone lanes winding up past the church to a viewpoint over the surrounding plain, while the newer part of the village gathers along a single main street of cafes and a well-regarded weekly market.

Below the village, the countryside is classic Alpilles: olive groves, cypress, vineyards and the pale limestone hills, with the isolated Romanesque Chapelle Saint-Sixte standing alone on the plain among the olive trees, a much-photographed landmark. The village has long drawn a quiet Parisian and international set who prefer its low-key character to the busier towns nearby, and it keeps a reputation for good food and understated charm.

There is no bad season, though the village is at its best in late spring and early autumn, when the light is soft and the terraces are busy; summer is warm and fragrant, with the lavender of the wider region at its peak, and winter is quiet and clear. Days here divide between the market, walks and cycling in the Alpilles, and the wineries and olive mills of the surrounding countryside.

For families and groups who want a garden, a pool and the pace of the Alpilles, luxury villa rentals in Eygalieres sit among the olive groves and vineyards around the village.