Romantic Town in Provence
 

My fiance and I are looking for a small town in provence to stay for five or six days after doing the first part of our honeymoon in Paris. We are looking for some place near Avignon so that we can take several day trips to various day trips. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Info on st. remy or les baux would be great also. Thanks

Good taste in honeymoon locales! My wife and I spent an idyllic week in Provence three years ago, staying at an old converted "mas" (farmhouse) 3 miles outside St. Remy as our base. Using a rental car, we explored St. Remy, Avignon, the Pont de Garde, Arles, Aix en Provence, Les Baux, the Rhone Valley wineries, and the Fontaine de Valcluse, among other sights. With the help of the detailed Michelin maps, we were able to stick to the back roads and truly experience the countryside, stopping to sample wine or inspect santon dolls. The area is stiff with great restaurants; the people are warm and friendly (our French is strictly tourist quality, but English is widely spoken, especially once the ice is broken by attempting a transaction in French). Our inn in St. Remy, incidentally, was the Domaine de Valmouraine, which I would wholeheartedly recommend as a romantic spot. Les Baux, FYI, is just down the road from St. Remy and is in the country, high on a mountain from which you can see all the way down to the Mediterranean. There's one nearby inn with a three-star restaurant attached. <BR> <BR>You don't say what time of year you're planning your honeymoon, but I'd suggest an early start for booking purposes.

Jefron, Go search under the village of <BR>Isle sur Sorgue and take a look at an <BR>ideal location to explore Provence. <BR>About 20 miles east of Avignon. Also, <BR>find a nice B&B near there called Le <BR>Mas de Coulderere[ sp.] I think you may like it. Best wishes !

Take a look here: <BR>http://www.francemarket.com/masdepeint/indexus.htm

I second Neal in his comment on your discriminating taste. You are going to a region in which you can point your rental car in any direction and have an extraordinary visit. <BR>I can help you with Les Baux. It's a must-see and, for me, probably the most vivid memory I have of my trips to Provence. You really have to see it, but it is very small---you can tour the whole village in an hour, with another hour to savour what you've already seen, then you can really maximize the event by catching a sunset or sunrise and by having an excellent meal there. So... my suggestion is that you either spend the night on the way from one city to another; or you arrange to arrive a few hours before dinner, eat there, and return to wherever you are staying in the region. <BR>If you wish to eat very well while there, try the "Oustau de Baumaniere", a 16th C structure, if it's in your budget. It's a Michelin 2 star restaurant which puts it in a very select range. Order the ravioli de truffes. I recall that they have rooms as well. It's located in a little valley very near the town. If something with a more quaint atmosphere is your style, "La Riboto de Taven", a charming inn with a very good restaurant is nearby. Both places feature terrific views and great terraces to dine on. Also, right in Les Baux there are some pleasant restaurants and, I think, several inns. I particularly remember a terraced restaurant right on the main pedestrian walkway in the village. <BR>Lastly, two places I would consider adding to the list are Aigues Mortes, the medeival town that launched the crusades and is located along the coast S of Nimes; and you must visit the Pont du Gard, the amazing aquaduct that spans the Gard River, maybe 45 km NE of Nimes. <BR>Have a great time! <BR>