The birthplace of Nostradamus and the inspiration for Van Gogh’s, ‘Starry Night’, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is a truly unmissable destination for anyone visiting Provence.
The small city is a prime example of the ‘Provençal way of life’, with winding streets lined with hotels, chapels and private mansions dating from the Renaissance period to the 18th century. A visit during the summer months has tourists in awe of the shaded boulevards and squares that feature ancient fountains, as well as the abundance of terraced cafés and restaurants.
A rite of passage when in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is to visit the Monastery of Saint-Paul de Mausolé, a fine example of Provençal Romanesque architecture that was once an asylum that treated Vincent Van Gogh in 1889. For those with an interest in Roman history, the archaeological site of Glanum, mentioned in our ‘A Roman Ruins Road Trip Through France’ article, is just a few minutes’-drive south of the city.