Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

Saint-Remy-de-Provence sits at the foot of the Alpilles, the small limestone range that rises out of the plain in the heart of Provence, ringed by olive groves, vineyards and the plane-lined roads that typify the region. It is a classic Provencal market town, its old centre a ring of boulevards and squares around narrow lanes, with a twice-weekly market that fills the streets with produce, flowers and the food of the south.

The town carries an unusual amount of history for its size. Just outside it lie the Roman and Greek ruins of Glanum, one of the best-preserved ancient sites in France, alongside a triumphal arch and mausoleum standing by the roadside. Nearby, the former monastery of Saint-Paul de Mausole is where Vincent van Gogh spent a year and painted some of his most famous works, and the surrounding landscape of cypress, olive and wheat is instantly recognisable from his canvases. Saint-Remy is also the birthplace of the astrologer Nostradamus, a fact the town wears lightly.

There is no bad season, but the town is at its best in late spring and early autumn, when the light is soft and the markets are full; summer is warm, busy and fragrant, with the lavender of the wider region at its peak, while winter is quiet and clear. Days here divide between the markets, the Roman ruins, 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 Provence, luxury villa rentals in Saint-Remy-de-Provence sit among the olive groves and vineyards around the town.