Provence 7-day Itinerary
France
Where to go and what to see in Provence to get the most from your trip – a 7-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Dana Facaros.
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Overview >Bucket list experience:
Ancient Glanum
Last updated: 09 November, 2022
Just south along the road from Saint-Remy, towards the Alpilles are two remarkable Roman monuments known as ‘Les Antiques: a Triumphal Arch’, and the strikingly well-preserved ‘Mausoleum’ that stands as a memorial dedicated to Julius Caesar and Augustus.
Beyond those lie the extensive and impressive ruins of the ancient city of Glanum, which – amazingly – were only rediscovered in the 1900s. Ancient Glanum was a Gaulish fortified town founded around a sacred spring in the 6th century BC. It became an official Roman city in 27BC, in the wake of Julius Caesar’s conquest of the region.
The surrounding landscapes of olives and cypresses here are pure Van Gogh: he painted many of his best-known works in these parts.
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Price from: £7
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 18+
When: All year around
Getting there & doing it
If you’re not driving, Les Antiques and Glanum are an easy 15-minute walk from Saint-Remy, along the D5. There are also taxis, and bikes to hire next to Saint-Remy’s train station.
There is a downloadable booklet in English, with a map, on the official website.
When to do it
The sites are open all year round, seven days a week – though it closes on Monday from October through March.
Wednesday is market day in nearby Saint-Remy, which can make parking difficult – but it’s fun to visit the market first, and then head over to Glanum after.
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Chateau des Alpilles
Saint-Remy, Provence, France[2.5 miles]
An elegant, historic 19th-century chateau hotel just outside historic Saint-Remy, set in glorious grounds.
Official star rating:
Baumaniere Hotel
Les Baux-de-Provence, Provence, France[5.2 miles]
Legendary country hotel and three-star Michelin restaurant, in a magical setting just below Les-Baux-en-Provence.
Official star rating:
Hotel B Design & Spa
Paradou, Provence, France[6.3 miles]
An intimate retreat: ultra-contemporary, minimalist hotel secluded in the olive groves under the Alpilles. Expect high design luxury suites, a spa and a gourmet restaurant tucked under the Les Baux-en-Provence castle.
Official star rating:
Hotel Le Colbert
Avignon, Provence, France[19.1 miles]
Quirky, bohemian and great value boutique hotel conveniently located within easy walking distance of Avignon’s attractions. One for the budget-conscious traveller.
Official star rating:
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Provence
Provence, France
Gorgeous landscapes peppered with beautiful villages, sunflowers and lavender, art-filled towns, lively cultural festivals and exquisite food and wine. Provence is everything you imagined it would be.
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Overview >Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Van Gogh Walk in Saint-Remy
Saint-Remy-de-Provence, Provence, France[0.3 miles]
Follow in Van Gogh’s footsteps through the landscapes around Saint-Remy-de-Provence, where he painted some of his best-known works.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free | 1+ hours
Chateau des Baux-en-Provence
Les Baux-de-Provence, Provence, France[4.4 miles]
An atmospheric, ruined 10th century castle teetering atop the craggy Alpilles mountains, rich in Provence feudal history and panoramic landscape views.
Best for ages: 4+ | £15
Angladon Museum
Avignon, Provence, France[19.3 miles]
A superb private art collection in a townhouse, including the only Van Gogh in Provence. There are also paintings by Chardin, Manet, Cezanne, Degas, Modigliani, Sisley and Picasso.
Best for ages: 18+ | £7
Courses Camarguaises
Arles, Provence, France[19.4 miles]
Provence’s bloodless bullfights are one of the region’s most exciting and best-loved sports, a cultural phenomenon held in the magnificent Roman amphitheatre of Arles.
Best for ages: 8+ | £8 | 1+ hours
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Experience
St-Paul-de-Mausole
Saint-Remy-de-Provence, Provence, France[0.3 miles]
The asylum where Van Gogh spent 1888-89 is a masterpiece of Provencal Romanesque, and today specializes, appropriately, in art therapy. His room and reproductions of the paintings he made there are on display, along with temporary exhibitions.
Best for ages: 18+ | £4
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Experience
Olive oil tasting at Moulin Castelas
Les Baux-de-Provence, Provence, France[4.3 miles]
In the stunning setting of Les Baux, learn all about Provence’s greeny-golden nectar on these free tastings of these award-winning oils. Open all year-round, but short walks through the olive groves and visits to the mill are also offered from June to September.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free | 2 hours
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Experience
Les Alyscamps
Arles, Provence, France[19.6 miles]
An evocative, romantic Roman burial ground – once the most famous cemetery in medieval Europe. It’s the burial site of the legendary St Trophime and the first bishops of Arles, and remains an important stop on the pilgrimage to Compostela.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
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Experience
Vincent Van Gogh Foundation
Arles, Provence, France[19.8 miles]
Arles is world-famous thanks to Van Gogh, but to the city’s eternal regret no one bought any of his paintings. This foundation, in the newly renovated Hotel Leautaud de Donines, is dedicated to art exhibitions inspired by the artist.
Best for ages: 18+ | £9
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Round-ups that include this experience
47 Best Roman ruins
Multiple countries
Leading European travel writer Dana Facaros, with a passionate interest in archaeological sites, round-ups the best ruins and remnants of arguably the world’s greatest empire.
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