My husband, 7 year old and myself are spending 1 week in Provence in August. I would like to be in a village where we can walk to the bakery in the morning or to a restaurant at night. We will have a car for touring around during the day. I have been looking at St. Remy but wonder whether it will be too packed and busy to be enjoyable in August. I have seen some interesting villas near Noves and Eyragues. Any thoughts? Also planning a week in Loire valley. I am thinking Amboise versus countryside gite. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
St. Remy in August
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Everything in this area - said to be Europe's most popular holiday venue in July and August - when Europeans get long vacations - is IME of being there several Augusts will be packed - hard to escape the mobs, even in St Remy which I found to be a bit more sleepy it seemed than other Provencal towns.
St-Rémy is too far inland to be packed in August - everyone's south of there at the beach. It will be fine, though some things will be closed. The Wednesday market is pretty much always packed, but otherwise will be fine. It's worse in July. But if you find a nice villa elsewhere in a smaller town, I'd probably opt for that, personally. I like St-Rémy but am not captivated by it as many are.
As for Amboise, I like it too, but I don't know that I'd install myself there for a full week. My preference when visiting the Loire is to pick two places, one east and one west, to be able to see the various sites at opposite ends of the valley. I also think a full week is more than I'd want to spend in the area (though if it's your first time there, that's reasonable).
If you decide on St. Remy, I can recommend the Mas des Carassins. Beautiful place just outside St. Remy - easy walk past olive groves into town.
An entire week in the Loire Valley is probably 4 days longer than you need.
If you decide on St. Remy, I can recommend the Mas des Carassins. Beautiful place just outside St. Remy - easy walk past olive groves into town.
We had a similar experience there... nice place. We especially liked the fact that the stroll away from the city center ensured a quiet, restful experience at night. My only caveat is that the 'easy walk' into town might be easier for some 7-year-olds than for others. Use your discretion.
St-Rémy is too far inland to be packed in August - everyone's south of there at the beach. It will be fine>
My experience is far difference - several Augusts in Provence - the Avignon area miles from any beach and Arles miles from any beach and both were swarming with tourists - not only French but British and Germans and Italians - no the area away from the beaches certainly do attract crowds - huge crowds IME in August and St Remy being a great base only a few miles from Avignon, Arles, the Pont du Gard, etc so many neat sites/sights makes a great base as well - it may not be quite as hectic as Avignon/Arles but still very busy, at least the times I was there.
One reason St-Remy attracts many visitors is because of famed Les Baux being perched on a rocky plateau just a few miles from town - one of Provence' very top tourist attractions - the Dead City of Les Baux up top on the wide plateau overlooking miles of land is a remarkable archaeological site standing testament to a once thriving city and citadel - St-remy also draws many visitors because of its associations with Van Gogh - the asylum he voluntarily or perhaps was forced to go to some say is in St-Remy and this is where he painted many of his now famous works - and right where he painted them they have set up copies of them for visitors to appreciate the scene all the more.