Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is a Provencal town with a rich past. It is here that Nostradamus was born, and Van Gogh healed his psyche and created his greatest works.

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is located just 20 km south of Avignon, right next to a small range of hills called the Alpilles. There are many interesting Provencal attractions nearby, such as the towns of Les Baux-de-Provence, Tarascon, and Arles, as well as the ancient ruins of Glanum, and the quarry complex that holds multimedia shows, the Carrières de Lumières.

It is also worth visiting the Provencal vineyards, especially Mas de la Dame, about which the aforementioned Nostradamus wrote, and which can also be found in one of Van Gogh’s paintings.

Things to do in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

It’s best to start your visit to Saint Rémy at the tourist information office (Place Jean Jaurès). There you will be able to get a map of the Van Gogh Trail and explore the town and the surrounding area following in his footsteps as he painted the more than 150 famous works he created here.

While walking along the narrow streets of the town center you will come across, among others, a magnificent church (Collegiate Church of Saint Martin, Église Catholique Collégiale Saint-Martin), you will then reach Place Jules Pelissier with its restaurants, and right next to it, in a narrow street on the building at number 6 Rue Hoche, you will find a sign with information about the birthplace of Nostradamus.

Among the other attractions in the town, it’s worth mentioning:

  • Hôtel de Sade, 1 Rue du Parage – an antiques museum in a tenement house formerly owned by the Sade family (although the famous Marquis de Sade, who gave rise to the concept of sadism, never lived here);
  • The Alpilles Museum, 1 Place Charles Favier – a regional museum;
  • Musée Estrine, 8 Rue Lucien Estrine – a museum of modern art where you can also learn a lot about Van Gogh’s work.

There are plenty of restaurants in the town, so while walking around and admiring the architecture and attractions, it’s worth taking a break for food. I recommend the Chapeau de Paille – Bistrot Provençal (29 Boulevard Mirabeau), for example, but this is just one of many good addresses.

Van Gogh and Glanum

Two of the most interesting and visited attractions are right next to Saint Remy. The first is the former convent where Vincent Van Gogh stayed for psychiatric treatment (it was already a psychiatric hospital by that time). The place is called Monastère Saint-Paul de Mausole and is located at 2 Voie Communale des Carrières. There is free parking right in front of the building, but you will have to pay a few euros for sightseeing.

Inside you can see the chapel, cloisters, and kitchen facilities, but most importantly of all, the room where Van Gogh stayed (although he actually stayed in a different room). The artist spent from May 1889 to May 1890 here for voluntary treatment, and during this time created over 150 works, including the famous Starry Night.

The second important attraction in the area is right next to the hospital. This is the Site Archéologique de Glanum, reportedly the largest archaeological site in France. Whoever has seen the Roman Forum in Rome knows what to expect from Glanum. Here, you walk in the ruins of an ancient city. More information on the site at: site-glanum.fr. Paid admission.