We just came back from a wonderful 6-day Provence/Luberon trip. Our base was ST. Remy – a local B%26amp;B called Mas Shamrock. We saw St Remy, Les Baux, Tarascon, Avignon, Arles, Isle-sur-la-Sorgue market, Pont du Gard, Gordes, Roussillon, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, Lacoste, top of Mt Ventoux, Sault, Gigondas, Suzette.
We had a few days of cloudy/rainy weather, but that didn’t keep us from going to all these places. Mas Shamrock is a gorgeous 200-yr old house on the outskirts of St Remy converted into a B%26amp;B. The place is very comfortable and kept immaculate. John and Catharine Walsh are very friendly and wonderful hosts. John will even review your itinerary and make suggestions. If it weren’t for him, we would not have discovered the wonderful Chateau in Tarascon and the magnificent Abbey on the other side of Gordes.
Tarascon Chateau is one of the very few chateaus that is very well preserved/maintained and which is also open to the public to see from inside. It is easy to miss this place because it is not mentioned in any of the forum discussions that I read.
Here are a few places that we liked the most:
Avignon – this is fun place to hang around. Palais-de-Pape is very good and the restaurants/shops outside is a great place to have a lot of fun.
Without a doubt, the most spectacular drive was to the top of Mt Ventoux via Sault, descending on the other side into Cote-du-Rhone region. On the way we came across many gorgeous small villages such as St. Satumin-le-Apt, Sault, Suzette, etc. Don’t miss this drive. It is breathtaking.
Les Baux – a village high up on a top of a mountain. Wonderful place to spend half a day or so. It%26#39;s only 15 mins drive from St. Remy.
Same for Lacoste – a gorgeous village just south of Roussillon and Gordes. Climb to the top of the village and see the dilapidated chateau. Sit outside in the first café (forgot the name) at the entrance of the town, and enjoy an unforgettable view of the village Bonnieux.
Gordes offers a magnificent view from a distance, but we didn’t think much of it from inside the village. Roussillon was much better than Gordes.
I thought Isle-sur-la-Sorgue market is a bit over-hyped. We liked St. Remy Wednesday market much better.
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Was there in September and agree with many of your observations. Have jotted down a few places that we didn%26#39;t get to for our return trip next week. Thanks.
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Thanks for your post. We will be based in St Remy in October of this year.
What do others think about this statement:
%26quot;I thought Isle-sur-la-Sorgue market is a bit over-hyped. We liked St. Remy Wednesday market much better.%26quot;
I am just wondering, we are planning on hitting both...
Drake
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Went to both -- loved them both!!! L%26#39;Isle sur la Sorgue is sooo charming with all the water wheels, streams, rivers, etc. It is sometimes called the Venice of France.
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We always do Isle sur la Sourge - it is a market we really enjoy despite the crowds!
Useful also if you are self catering and it is the start of your week as the food part of the market is excellent.
Antique side of market is definately priced for the tourist although they will barter.
To be honest you will find a lot of the same traders at St Remy but if you enjoy markets certainly do both.
Isle sur la Sourgue is also worth a visit on non market days as you tend not to appreciate the other shops on market days and we spent far more when the market wasn%26#39;t on. So that can be a good or bad suggestion!!
Bedoin market is excellent also on a Monday and aimed more at the locals than as a tourist attraction.
Neal
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