Digbydog

We will be visiting Provence next June. We plan to stay in Aix for 1 night, have 2 nights in the Luberon and 2 nights in western Provence. Initially, I thought we might stay in St. Remy to explore western Provence, but after reading a lot, I get the idea most people choose St. Remy because of its central location and restaurant choices (both very good reasons), rather than because the city is wonderful.

On the other hand, people seem to love Uzes. I know it is not central, but I am thinking we could spend one day exploring Avignon and the Pont du Gard and another day looking at Arles and Les Baux. Plus, the Mas Laurent just outside Uzes looks lovely and is reasonably priced.

Is this a stupid idea? Should I just stick with St. Remy?

MmePerdu

I stayed in Uzes a year ago for a week and, yes, loved it. I didn't have a car, arrived by train then bus from Avignon. If you plan to have a car I say it's a great place to stay and explore. But not so easy if you don't have a car. There's sparse bus service and that's it. I was staying put, not exploring so it was fine for me.

StuDudley

We've spent 4 weeks in the Luberon, 2 weeks near St Remy, 2 weeks near Uzes, and 10 weeks near Mt Ventoux.

I think Uzes would be a great complement to the Luberon. You'll be located so that you'll be near many interesting places that are too far away from the Luberon. And we prefer Uzes over St Remy as far as just the "charm" of the city goes.

Stu Dudley

Digbydog

Stu--would you pick charm over a more central location?

MmePerdu--we will have a car.

StuDudley

I don't think I'm a good person to answer that question. I am not a first-timer so I prefer places less touristy and with more charm. A first-timer might choose something different.

For what it is worth, in the list of places (above) where we've "based", we've returned to every spot - except for the St Remy location.

Stu Dudley

Christina

I liked Uzes and would prefer to stay there to St Remy. I don't really like St Remy at all. The idea of centrality depends on your reference and to what you plan to do. But given you are already staying 2 nights in the Luberon somewhere, I don't see the point of just staying in St Remy which isn't that far away from them. At least Uzes would be in a different area.

Gretchen

Be sure to visit the wonderful potteries (poteries) in Uzes.

immimi

And sit under the plane trees having a cool beverage and
watching the world go by....beautiful little town.

Digbydog

I am really torn. Uzes sounds wonderful--poteries, plane trees, charming...

Or should I just go for a central location?

Decisions! Decisions!

macanimals

Just north of Uzes is the small town of St Quentin la Poterie. It has a colony of artisanal potters producing some very fine ceramic art. We have visited a couple of times and the last was during a juried exhibition which was located throughout the village. A fine tradition in a small, quaint village.

StuDudley

>>St Quentin la Poterie.<<

We purchased 6 large dinner plates plus about 12 smaller amuse bouche plates in St Quentin.

http://www.poteriegaltie.com/

Stu Dudley

Digbydog

St. Quentin sounds delightful. How nice to have some dishes that will always remind you of your visit.

I just added up the driving time from St. Remy and Uzes to the sites we'd like to see, and staying in Uzes only adds an hour and a half. So I am leaning towards Uzes.

We will be coming from the Dordogne, and I had planned to spend the night in Carcassonne and then head to Uzes first thing in the morning. Now I am thinking of just getting a peak of Carcassonne--maybe just from a distance. (I have been before, but wanted my husband and son to see it. Have to say I liked it better from a distance.) If we skip a night at Carcassonne, we would have 3 nights in Uzes. Then we'd have more time to see sites and just relax by the pool in the afternoon.

On the other hand, we will be traveling from the Dordogne on a Sunday. So maybe we are better off staying in touristy Carcassonne for the night.

I sound like the scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz.

Christina

well, there are plane trees all over that general area, and there sure are plenty in St Remy, also, that isn't a good reason.

Many many people claim St Remy is charming, also, you know, I presume all the folks who stay there think so. I just don't like it, it's too full of tourists and expensive shops and I think the town itself is rather unattractive. Others don't. It probably has a better selection of hotels, Uzes doesn't have a good selection in town itself. But you already know where yo uwant to stay anyway.

StuDudley

I think it would be a good idea to head out from the Dordogne, spend 2 hrs in Carcassonne, then continue on to Uzes. Carcassonne breaks up the long drive.

Stu Dudley

Digbydog

I went to school in Aix many years ago and visited Arles, Avignon, the Pont du Gard, the Luberon, and St. Remy. The only place I don't remember is St. Remy. I guess that tells me something.

Digbydog

Forgot to mention I remember Nimes too.

uhoh_busted

Uzes is where I want to go stay at least two weeks. There is so much around there, and the town is wonderful. We stayed there for two nights last fall (we had a friend's flat on the coast for a month) and totally fell in love with the town. We had visited it briefly on a previous trip). We were checking out apartments for future "Long stays" and having a purpose made our short stay even more enjoyable.

uhoh_busted

oops - sorry that was the Fall of 2010. Senior moment....

Digbydog

Thanks everyone for your help! We have decided to stay in Uzes, rather than St. Remy. We will go there straight from the Dordogne, stopping for a couple of hours in Carcassonne, as Stu suggested. That way we will have 3 nights in Uzes and two full days to explore the area.

cigalechanta

I stayed a few days in Uzes. The Saturday market is wonderful
and yo'have several good restaurants. You are close to the Camargue a must visit and dine here.

http://www.avignon-et-provence.com/a...-chassagnette/