Uzes or Saint-Remy as a day trip from Avignon?

Posted by elizaoltremare (Montreal, QC) on 02/16/23 06:14 PM

My brother and I are staying in Avignon for four nights (arrive on a Saturday early evening, depart Wednesday mid-afternoon). We're intending to take a day trip to Arles and have time for one more day away from Avignon. But torn between Uzes and Saint-Remy... no car, so we're dependent on trains and buses.

We love art, churches, and atmospheric old towns to walk around. He's a foodie, I'm a photographer. Some cities we or I have particularly liked are Lucca, Siena, Lisbon, Seville, Venice (quiet parts), Edinburgh, Vienna, Budapest... what do you think?

Posted by balso

Paris

02/16/23 06:22 PM

7301 posts

Definitely Uzès for me, because it is a proper town! Especially good if you can throw in Pont du Gard (the bus schedule could allow this), but you do not have to.

Saint-Rémy is cute but smaller; it takes less than two hours to walk around the whole old town. The ruins of Glanum and St Paul de Mausole (Van Gogh connection) add some interest, but they are a 30-minute walk away from the old town.

Edited to add, that Saint-Rémy is often recommended as a base to visit the region (with a car), being charming and centrally located. But that does not make it a top destination in my opinion!

Posted by Elizabeth

L'Occitanie, France

02/17/23 07:23 AM

10623 posts

I agree with Uzès. But you have to check the bus schedule very carefully.

Posted by Morfal

France

02/17/23 07:53 AM

40 posts

Definitely Uzes, unless you're a huge Vincent Van Gogh fan and want to see the sites of some of his famous paintings. Uzes has a lovely old castle and pleasant town with good restaurant options.

When you're in Avignon, you could also visit the excellent tourist office to see what other day trips you might take. I once took a lavender fields bus day trip from there, stopping in lovely villages in the Luberon. Orange is a super easy train day trip as well (could just be 1/2 day), although that would be for Roman ruins.

BTW. When you're in Avignon, be sure to take the city bus (by the post office) across the river to Villeneuve-les-Avignon. There's a beautiful old chartreuse monastery there (great photography potential), as well as gardens next to another old abbey.