Hi everyone. Great forum. I have yet another Provence request for advice.

My wife and I will be in Provence for 4 days in November. Wondering which town to use as base for easy exploring. Interested mostly in relaxing at a nice hotel in a nice town, but also wine tasting, food, Roman ruins, hiking, and art. Was first thinking about Arles and Hotel Particulier, but now leaning toward St. Remy and Atelier de l'Images. Any suggestions?

Also, we will be travelling via train as we are later headed to Lyon to visit friends, then to Paris for a week. Is a car mandatory to see the Pont du Gard, Uzes, Chateneuf du Pape, Arles?

Thanks!

St-Rémy is your best bet, as it's the most central. Nearby are the ruins of Glanum, a Greco-Roman city, and a memorial arch to the two grandchildren of Caesar Augustus. You can get a leaflet in the Van Gogh center that shows various sites of his paintings. You should also put the ruined town of Les Baux on your list; it's not far from St-Rémy.

A car isn't mandatory, but it is certainly easier for seeing the Pont du Gard, Arles, Uzès, and Chateauneuf-du-Pape, especially if you want to visit the vineyards.

We Stayed one night of our four days in St. Remy at Atelier de l'Images. It is a very nice hotel right in the center of St remy. It is very modern, chic, so if you are looking for traditional Chateau lodging, this isn't it. We stayed ay Vallon de Valrugues the other three nights, and really enjoyed the location, grounds, pool, and dining room. Make sure you go to La Maison Jaune for dinner. Cheers, Al

Thanks for the input. It sounds like St. Remy is a good location for exploring. I had read about the Glanum site, sounds neat. Will certainly note Les Baux. Perhaps I'll look into a car for easier access to the further sites. La Maison Jaune sound tasty as well. "roasted rack of lamb served with a tapenade of black olives and pulverized anchovies." Can't wait. Thanks.

We based ourselves in Nimes. No car. Got to Uzes and Pont du Gard by local bus, Avignon and Arles by train. Gorgeous Roman amphitheatre to admire while having pre-dinner champagne.

Oh, yes, regarding the Atelier l'Images, I was curious about the contemporary setting and furnishings. I usually like the more modern hotels, plus people have said some nice things about this one. It looks like a nice place to relax, too.