Thanks in advance for wanting to help. It will be me, my husband and teenage daughter. This might be every village in Southern France... :) but we are looking for an old world experience, where we can walk everywhere, where there is beautiful architecture and fountains, markets, beautiful views, and nature nearby. We are painters so there is that connection, but I don't feel like I have to stay where Van Gogh lived, etc. I guess what I'm looking for is a place that is the right size where being there for a week makes sense. I don't really have a sense of how big these villages are. It would be good for it to be both safe and interesting for my daughter to roam. I am overwhelmed by how every village on my computer looks as beautiful as the next I have no idea how to choose. Thanks again!
Posted by
11569 posts
Look at Eygalières, St-Remy, Menerbes
Posted by
San Francisco/Marin County
9436 posts
We loved St Rémy-de-Provence (there are more than one St Rémys in France) more than any other town we visited. Super charming and wonderful. It ticks all your boxes. We stayed at Hotel du Soleil and really like it.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10623 posts
Uzès. Has everything you ask. And we had five bakeries and three butchers within a 3- minute walk. Fabulous market twice a week. We stayed four months.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10601 posts
I agree with Susan about making St Remy-de-Provence your base. We rented an apartment with a washer, which is very convenient if you plan to pack lightly. Where else are you going on the trip?
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thank you all for the recommendations! We will also be spending time in Paris. I wish I had more time to go more places, but I also know that having a slow pace is part of what I will enjoy.
Posted by
California 🦋
5293 posts
Mialeslie,
My daughter and I enjoyed our stay at
L’Isle sur La Sorgue.
I’m interested to know which village/town you end up choosing, please report back.
Enjoy your trip!
Edited to add…
I’ve not traveled to these, yet, but they’re on my wish list too.
Posted by
California 🦋
5293 posts
@Bets
Uzès has been on my wish list for quite some time.
Please share your favorite restaurants & bakeries!
You probably stayed in an apartment but do you have any hotel or B&B recommendations?
Did you have a car when you lived there?
Wow! You should write a book!
Thanks!
Posted by
Los Angeles
972 posts
I have not been to Uzes or St. Remy but went to many towns in Luberon. LOVE Lourmarin and could easily stay a week there. Of the places mentioned here, I believe L' Isle sur la Sorgue is the only one with a train station. We found the buses in Provence quite easy to use.
We were in Aix-en-Provence for a month, but it is not a village.
Posted by
42 posts
Another vote for St Remy! It is a great base with many options for day trips ( L’Isle sur la Sorgue, Arles, Avignon, Les Baux, etc) but it is also a charming walkable town with a variety of restaurants and shops
Posted by
Sunriver
1321 posts
My choice would be Nice. St Remy I find is to stark - like no greenery anywhere I can remember in the main town.
Posted by
San Francisco/Marin County
9436 posts
St Rémy is not stark at all, it is full of trees and greenery, could you be thinking of another town?
When we were deciding which town to base ourselves in Provence we watched lots of YouTube travel shows on each town which helped us a lot.