Please sign in to post.

Home Base in Provence June

Posted by on

Hi Everyone,

I realize this subject has been broached many times. I’ve read the posts here and in other forums and the articles out there but the more I read the more it got muddled for me. So here is our background:

-This is part of a trip through parts of France and Italy. We did Italy last year .
-It’s me, my wife and 3 kids...11, 10 and 7
-We have a car
- 4 nights in this region AND we will be doing a separate 5 nights just for the Riviera since it’s included sometimes
- We prefer using VRBO type places so countryside around areas is fine

We initially had a VRBO in Gordes but started doubting how “central” it is so right now, from all my reading I’m thinking St Remy; Aix en Provence; L’Isle sur le Sorgue; or Fontaine de Vaucluse.

Of that list I had read St Remy might be too touristy. I also nixed Avignon; Arles ; Roussillon due to location or the amount of negative reviews here.

ANY advice or new places appreciated! We are pretty experience travelers and the kids are too for their age so driving to places, trains, etc are not bothersome to us. Pont Du Gard and some Roman ruins would be on our list to see!

Posted by
1582 posts

Ménerbes, Lourmarin, and Porquerolles are new places to explore in Provence. However, Saint Remy is the most centrally located town in the region.

Posted by
336 posts

Most central in Provence would be around, and just south of Avignon. From there you will be in the middle of almost everything.
I'm surprised you are ruling out these places.
-Avignon's Pope palace is very impressive place I really enjoyed.
-Roussillon is a Gorgeous small village, just beside an ocher road visit that is in a very nice environment. If something Gordes is much more touristy, yet beautiful
-Arles's roman remains are spectacular, especially the amphitheater
I've been 3 times to Provence and taste is a very personal thing. But I didn't enjoy Isle-sur-la-Sorgue that much. Same for Fontaine de vaucluse.
But loved and enjoyed very much the followings for various reasons:
-Orange and the Roman Amphitheater.
-Pont du gard
-Arles
-NImes(though it's in the languedoc region)
-Uzes, small village north of Nimes
-The creeks in Cassis
-Going on top on Mont Ventoux(6000 feet)
-Les baux de provence(tousisty village but gorgeous)
-Gordes, Roussillon and Senanque abbey(all done the same day. :-) )
-And more east, Les gorges du Verdon and the village of Moustier Ste-Marie

Here you go

Posted by
4 posts

RJean thanks for your reply! I’ll check those out too!

Claude the only reason I took them off was I was trying to narrow things down and there were so many opinions that people weren’t impressed/too crowded, etc so I kind of made a grid on what was trending positively. I’ll definitely relook now! Thanks for the details!! Much appreciated

Posted by
662 posts

I had a similar dilemma and marked everything I wanted to see on a map. St-Remy was right in the middle of our prioritized attractions, so we will be in a VRBO there late-May, early June. Maybe the same strategy will help you decide where you want to base. When I looked on VRBO, I found several places right outside St-Remy, which you might prefer if you don't want to be in the town, but I booked several months ago.

Posted by
336 posts

Totally understand. Travelling is choosing...
I kind of like guide books like Rick's books or michelin's green guide that put stars on must sees and explain why. I find them usually close to spot on.
This might help you too.
Have a great trip.

Posted by
4 posts

Barbara there are some good ones still out there so we have options! Just want the best area we can be in for sights we want to see! We had an incredible trip through regions of Italy last year using VRBO so just trying to do the same here!

Appreciate all the responses!

Posted by
27112 posts

I found the island of Porquerolles simply not special enough to justify the time it takes to get there. It would be pleasant if you had plenty of time to see everything else you were interested in and were looking for a place to do not much except walk and swim for a couple of days. That's not the situation most Americans are in when they travel to France. Porquerolles is reached by boat from a dock outside the town of Hyeres. I quite liked Hyeres, but to me the island just didn't have enough going for it. My trip was quite long, and I was still sorry I had spent a day visiting Porquerolles.

Posted by
1166 posts

Don't miss:

Hiking the ocher hills in Roussillon
Kayaking under the Pont du Gard - we used Canoe Collinas
The markets in Uzes and Arles

We stayed at Les Carmes - they have a pool and croquet lawn and Paschal was a delightful host - this is actually in Le Thor.
We were within a 3 minute drive into Isle sur la Sorgue for a grocery store and gas
We used this base for Uzes, Gordes, Menerbes, Roussillon, Gigondas and Vaison

Posters really love St. Remy and we may check it out on our next trip.

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.