In the four days we have in this part of Provence, I don't feel we could see both of these towns very well.
I need some advice on which one if we cannot do both.
Thanks.

Stay in Arles and then Montpellier, from where you can do a day-trip to Nîmes. Montpellier is BEAUTIFUL!!!

Have fun.
Ross.

I just was thinking in the short amount of time we have, I won't be able to do any justice to both towns.
That is why I was trying to pick one.

We are already committed to staying near St Remy. I guess I could have said that, newyorkais.

if you are staying near St. Remy, spend your time in Arles. 2000+ year old Roman Ampitheater which they still use.. if you are there in mid September you might even get to see some real bull fights.

are you going to try to see Pont du Gard? I'd also suggest Les Baux, after you've seen Glanum.

last but not least - try to go horseback riding while you are there. there are several places to choose from and you can see things you may not otherwise see.

Sher -

You'd be surprised just how much you can do in four days. Assuming you'll have a car. What time of year?.

With base in St. Remy I'm sure you're planning time in Avignon which you can do in the morning, then head out to Nimes and NW of Nimes even Uzes, then on return stop at Pont du Gard at sunset when all tourists are gone, then back to St. Remy.

Another day you can go to Arles and spend morning, then head out to Aigues Mortes.

While Montpellier is lovely, it's really off the track of the Provence area.

You can spend third day doing the Luberon area. And fourth day, discover St. Remy and go to Les Baux (but don't miss the Asylum Van Gogh, Les Antiques as you leave St. Remy going south) across the road from these is Glanum, roman archeological site. Then go to Les Baux.

Enjoy your holiday.

Well, we are going to be in St. Remy in less than two weekks.
We will have a car. We will be in Grasse for six days and then are driving to St. Remy for four and then flying from Marseille to Paris and home.
I really have two itineraries because we have one for the Grasse area and one for St. Remy.
Yes, we intend to see Pont du Gard, Les Baux, Glanum, Les Antiques, either Arles or Nimes (and thank you for the thumbs up for Arles), Uzes. I would also like to maybe swing over to Gordes.

I am not going to Aix or Avignon. I would rather be in a vineyard in Chateauneuf du Pape, if I have the time.
They will just have to be on the next trip.

I hope the weather does not fry my brain!
Thanks again. Sherry

I vote for Nimes over Arles. It's a beautiful city, which I had the pleasure of staying in twice for several days. Although I admit the last trip was over 15 years ago. It's just the right size, and has a great feel to it. I remember the market as being great as well; you might want to check the market days.

Arles and Nîmes are not that far apart. There is no reason you can't do them both justice in four days and also see the other towns of the region. Just be aware that the drive from Arles to Nîmes is a series of roundabouts that will make your head spin - although I think I took the back route last time; maybe it's a straight shot on the autoroute.
If you get up early in the morning - as anyone visiting southern France should do as not to lose valuable time (the siesta breaks the touring day in half by 2-3 hours), you could see most of what Arles has to offer by late afternoon. Another day touring in Nîmes could be combined with stops in Tarrascon, Beaulieu, Fonteveille, etc. You have ample time to see all that is immediate in this region - as long as you have a good map and navigator.

At least go to Arles for afternoon and see the amphitheater and have a drink or lunch at the famous Van Goth Cafe on the forum, a great site for people watching and visit the museum Arleton to see how life was like in the olden times.

If you like books, The great French book store Sud Actes is in Nimes... has another great amphitheater, take a photo by the beautiful sculpture of a bull fighter opposite the amp,There's a Van Goth Center there also where we saw a wonderfu exhibition of children's drawings of sunflowers from alover France

Hi, Sher! Without a car, I thought we did a lot based in Avignon. One day in Nimes (in the rain via train), and I thought we covered a lot. We missed some stuff in Arles during our day triip, but were late starters and shopped for tablecloths. In a car, I think you could possibly cover it in a day, or two.

My trip report might give you a feel for the towns:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34422940

St.Cirq, Hi. I know you have a lot of experience in France. I was wondering if you knew (and maybe some of the others also)if it is worth the trip to the Les Olivades Factory Store South of Arles on the road leading to Tarascon? I have driven in the Riviera before with a friend and didn't do too badly. So maybe I can do more than I am planning. I just do not want to be rushed. This time my hubbie is the driver. So wish me luck!

LVSue. I had read your trip report before and I must say I thought you did so well with public transportation. I have always taken a car in Europe. Believe it or not, I feel it is less stressful then relying on buses and trains.

cigalechanta: I am not much of a museum person, but the amphitheaters and ruins really fascinate me. Those in both towns would not be too much for me as long as I can do it. My husband loves book stores.

This is great. Thank you so much, all of you.

I haven't been to that factory outlet but in Tarascon, I enjoded the Souleado, Charles Demery museum/shop. They have a on sale back room but still. IMO very expensive, My fav dress, I actually found on sale in Les Baux who carried some things. My husband is not a shopper but there is a lovely courtyard he can sit and read as I watched film and toured the process of stamping the fabrics in old days.

You will find Arles beautiful, depending on where you're from. On the river wall, right next to the city you will find sprawled (in two-foot-high letters): U.S. GO HOME! I know that certainly made us feel welcome! (but it gets worse!) After we stopped to take a photo of this site, we saw the man that had been standing there, uh, pleasuring himself, while watching us photograph the graffitti. We were grossed out for days.

Sher -
The Les Olivades Outlet is 7-1/2 miles North of Arles.

We passed it on our way from St. Remy to Arles and saw the arrow pointing to the other side of the road - so decided to stop on return. However, on return, there was no sign and we missed it. So stopped in gas station and when a women came out we figured she'd know where it was - she did, we turned around about 1/2 mile and there was the sign.

We found few items on sale and even those were still expensive.

If you're looking for the Provencal fabrics - tablecloths, placemats, napkins, etc. you can find good prices at most markets. There are some copies of original designs, but unless someone turns over the item looking for labels (tacky, tacky), you almost can't tell. We found copies in Les Baux, Carcassonne and I'm sure there are other places.

But the markets are you best for originals (you can check the labels), versus going into Les Olivades or Souleado shops.

Sher, I agree with Sandi-I found the most beautiful tablecloths at the market in Arles. They are solid with a printed trip. My only advice-don't wash them even on delicate-my gorgeous dark red one faded! C'est la vie! I love Arles and would pick it any day over Nimes which is nice but not as much to see in my opinion.

I really wanted to go there mainly to see a whole collection of the typical Provencal type of cloth and decorations.
The other times I have been in France, I purchased cloth with georgeous colors and patterns, and mostly bought unfinished.
The treated cloth I bought and the treated tableclothes, I don't wash. I have a friend who is French and sews and she warned me that the finish will deteriorate and the color fade if washed. The treated ones clean well with just a warm wipe.

None of my friends, nor do I, know enough about the French original design firms, so the label probably wouldn't make much difference. I just love the patterns and colors.
I plan to check out as many markets as I can. The first part of the trip we have a house, so we can buy things to eat there.


Babette, I am still shaking my head! How awful.

If your interest in French textiles extends to boutis (whole cloth quilts), there's museum near Nimes called La Maison du Boutis. I've not been there yet, but I discovered their website (www.la-maison-du-boutis.com) and it's on my list for our next visit.

Sher:

I'm sorry, but I haven't been to the Olivades outlet. Like others, I've bought provençal tablecloths and other items mainly in the markets - in Arles and St-Rémy, as well as in a couple of little stores in Maussane-les-Alpilles. They even sell them now in markets in the Dordogne, so I don't have to travel to Provence!

I would highly recommend staying in Arles. We stayed there for three nights at the Hotel Nord Pinus right on the forum. A corner of the hotel can be seen in Van Gogh's Cafe le Nuit painting. We were told that Hemingway used to drink in the hotel bar. They probably all say that but it was fun to sit there and think about it. We found a wonderful combination of Roman history (great colliseum, museum, chariot arena), Provancale products such as olive oil and linens, and Van Gogh info (although there are no paintings there, you can follow the Van Gogh walk where you can stand and look at the scenes he painted in some of his most famous paintings). Having lunch at the cafe on the square at the forum is great and there are lots of small, wonderful family run restaurants. Altogether, one of our favorite places.