St. Remy or Arles?
Dec 23rd, 2007, 11:55 AM
#1
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St. Remy or Arles?
We are visiting Provence this March and would like to stay in either St. Remy or Arles. Which would be a better base town to explore nearby sights? We tend to like the charm of small towns more than bigger city atmosphere.
Dec 23rd, 2007, 02:02 PM
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We have stayed in Arles (once) and St Remy (twice). Arles is much larger than St Remy, is lively & vibrant, has some wonderful restaurants & interesting shops and has many (Roman) sites of interest. As a place to stay, St Remy may give you some of the small town charm you are looking for. We love it for that very reason! They are only 30km apart. So, as long as you have a car, touring is possible from both.
Good luck with your plans!
2010
Good luck with your plans!
2010
Dec 23rd, 2007, 02:30 PM
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we stayed in St Remy last April. Is very easy to get in and out. St Remy has an suprising number of good restaurants. Is small enough to walk everywhere. Arls was pleasant, but much busier and larger. Think either would work well for you, but we would stay in St R again. Enjoy your trip.
Dec 24th, 2007, 08:13 AM
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We stayed in Arles for 6 nights at Hotel le Calendal (www.lecalendal.com). We were fortunate enough to have a room with the view of the Roman arena. It was magical falling asleep in the shadow of a 2000 year old building.
We day-tripped everywhere. Nothing is more than an hour or two easy drive.
Favorites were Pont Du Gard and Nimes.
We day-tripped everywhere. Nothing is more than an hour or two easy drive.
Favorites were Pont Du Gard and Nimes.
Dec 25th, 2007, 06:28 AM
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My vote is for St. Remy, a beautiful small town with great character...great location for easy drives to all the main areas of Provence. Also you are within a 5-10 minute walk to Glanum, with its great Roman ruins and monuments. Also, if interested, great Van Gogh history throughout the town.
Arles is much bigger than St Remy, and while its a good visit, doesnt seem to have the charm of St. Remy.
Mikek
Arles is much bigger than St Remy, and while its a good visit, doesnt seem to have the charm of St. Remy.
Mikek
Dec 25th, 2007, 07:36 AM
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From your OP no doubt stay in St Remy, a rather sleepy and quintessential Provence small town and well located - easy driving out of a quiet town, not so always in Arles (or finding parking if hotel doesn't have it, etc.)
Les Baux is just a few miles from St Remy and that is a blockbuster sight IMO
blockbuster not a bad word as this City of the Dead tops a block-like plateau several hundred feet high
Les Baux is just a few miles from St Remy and that is a blockbuster sight IMO
blockbuster not a bad word as this City of the Dead tops a block-like plateau several hundred feet high
