My wife and I will be based in St Remy for 3 nights late in April, and we are wondering if driving to St Paul de Vence for a day trip that time of year will make sense. It seems like a charming town, but will it be overrun with tourists? The maps claim it is a 2.5 hour car drive from Avignon to Nice, but just curious if you all would recommend it. Pros and cons are gratefully accepted. Thank you in advance. -Jim K
Posted by
Nice, France & San Francisco
686 posts
April is the off season and it won't be overrun. However, that's a long day trip from St. Remy. You might consider just focusing on the areas closer to St. Remy, like additional towns in the Luberon.
Posted by
OP
Texas
20 posts
Gooster, Thank you for your response. That was my concern as well. However, though we were not intending to visit the Riviera, some friends are trying to convince us that it is a special place and would be worth it. Thanks again.
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7042 posts
Drive time will be anywhere from 2-1/2 to 4 hours each way depending on traffic and road conditions and whether or not you make any rest stops between. If it was important to me I might do it because I like to drive and I always enjoy the drive between my base and my destination. St Paul de Vence is nice (I did it as a day trip from Nice) but there are plenty of attractive, charming, towns to explore closer to St Remy. So, you have to decide if it's important enough to you to make the drive.
Posted by
OP
Texas
20 posts
Nqncy,
You make some very good points. Thank you for your reponse.
Jim
Posted by
San Franciso Bay Area, USA
961 posts
I agree with the other posters that visiting some of the other towns around St. Remy may be a better use of your time. St Paul de Vence is a lovely town and I have visited it when I was based in Antibes.
There are so many places to go near St. Remy, some of our favorites are Arles, Les Baux de Provence, and if you like nature, the Camargue Nature Park.
Have great trip,
Sandy
Posted by
OP
Texas
20 posts
Sandy,
Thank you very much for your insightful comments.
Jim
Posted by
Truro, NS, Canada
3941 posts
I'm another who really liked St Paul - but I'd also put Roussillon high on my list and the two reminded me of each other - so if Roussillon isn't on your visit list, put it on. It's also only about 45 min. You could also stop in Gordes and see the Abbaye Notre Dame de Senanque (it may not sound familiar, but google a photo of it) during the same trip. I wouldn't drive 5 hrs round trip to see St Paul.
Les Baux also makes a great day trip.
Posted by
OP
Texas
20 posts
Nicole,
You have some great ideas! We are seeing that the immediate area holds so much charm that it really wouldn't make sense to drive excessively. We will, however, catch St-Paul on another trip that takes us closer to the Riviera.
By the way, we have added Abbaye Notre Dame and Rousillon to our list. Also Les Baux is a definite.
Thank you very much,
Jim