Summer in Provence: Part 2

Our trip to Provence this past summer seems like a lifetime ago. I reminisce about it almost daily, daydreaming about all the amazing things we experienced in just a short week there. We started in Avignon and stayed in the historic centre, which you can read more about here. Now on to the next stop…

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
After our quick stay in Avignon, we picked up our rental car and made our way to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. This served as our hub for the rest of our time in Provence. Instead of staying at a hotel directly in the city centre, we choose the 18th century Château De Roussan. I’m quite a romantic, so when I saw this château online, I just couldn’t pass it up.

As we turned off the main road and onto the long lane, I couldn’t believe my eyes. There, at the end of the drive, stood the château in all its elegance and beauty. It was as if it was stuck in time. The inside was just remarkable, still decorated in an older fashion. It seriously felt like we were being transported back to the 18th century, and I didn’t mind one bit.

Château De Roussan was built in the 18th century by the brother of the famous Nostradamus, a French astrologer and physician.

The garden was just as stunning. One afternoon, while David was napping, I decided to spend some time outside. I found a lawnchair and sat there in the summer sun, with no other sound but the hum of the cicadas, or cigales in French. I can close my eyes now and still hear them. I found their song oddly relaxing. The cicada is the symbol of Provence, and now I understand why.

According to Provencal myth, cicadas were sent by God to disrupt the peasants’ afternoon naps to stop them from becoming too lazy. It backfired and the sound of the cicada became a soothing lullaby.

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is just as charming as we thought it would be. It’s so quaint and picturesque with its fountains, colored shutters, and winding lanes. Everyday we ventured into town for breakfast and dinner. We would just stroll the quintessential Provencal streets, taking in all the beauty it had to offer. It was amazing to discover something new around every corner. It’s truly such a special place.

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence served as the setting for many paintings and drawings by Vincent van Gogh while he stayed at the psychiatric hospital, Saint-Paul-de-Mausole.

We were lucky enough to be in town for the Wednesday morning market in the city centre. Vendors lined the streets selling everything you could possibly think of: local produce, bread, jams, olives, spices, cured meats, and so much more! We picked up a bag of stuffed olives to take as a snack for our little road trip to see the lavender fields in Valensole and a little sack of dried lavender as a keepsake.

The Wednesday market in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is well known as one of the best in the region.

Les Baux-de-Provence
Only a 15 minute drive away from Saint-Rémy-de-Provence lies the Carrières de Lumières located in Les Baux-de-Provence. Previously used as a stone quarry before WWII, the space now serves as the backdrop for visual and musical productions. We were fortunate enough to be there while the Van Gogh exhibit was on display. His art projected onto all the surfaces of the rock walls set to music is something I will never forget.

As soon as I walked in, I was overcome by emotion. The most beautiful opera was playing with the floor to ceiling covered in Van Gogh. We stood there watching the exhibit, not speaking a word to each other in total awe. We were immersed into his paintings as they came to life on the stone. I’ve never experienced anything like it; It literally took my breath away.

Van Gogh’s famous Starry Night was painted in 1889 during his time in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is such a whimsical little town; We loved staying here as our hub in Provence. It was such close proximity to everything we wanted to see, including the Carrières de Lumières in Les Baux-de-Provence. We cannot wait to visit again.

Next we will be taking a little road trip to Valensole and Esparron de Verdon…

xo,
Ashley