Events

The town where Vincent Van Gogh stayed unites the two distractions of shopping and culture. Follow our guide!

By Chantal Sarrazin - September 23, 2011

9am. A coffee at a table out front of the Café de la Place (Place de la République), the latest ‘in’ spot. Depending on the year, you might bump into Daniel Auteuil, Sofia Coppola, or Caroline de Monaco there in summer. At lunch, the food is excellent. The Thai salad and the aioli plate reinterpreted by chef Hervé already have a following, including us!

10am. Plunging into the centre of town, head for the Rue Carnot. It runs along the Favier square, the town’s cutest in our opinion, with its Renaissance hotels and its fountain where a bust of Nostradamus holds pride of place. The legendary seer was born here! Next, a little side trip by the Alpilles Museum, just to see this heritage listed in the building’s interior courtyard.

Shopping break! At the department store on the Rue de la Commune you’ll find the famous Panama hat, in pink or green, along with silk shawls, and distinctive jewelry – necklaces, earrings, rings – in vintage 20s or 50s styles. Across the street, on the Boulevard Victor Hugo, Ebène is the town’s designer décor paradise stocking tablecloths, dining sets, bedspreads, lamps and candles… Two steps from there C’est Ainsi presents fashion from Laurence Doligé, Chloé, Bel Air, Closed, Stella Forest and for shoes, Accessoire Diffusion.

Head down to the south of town and meditate at the St. Paul de Mausole Monastery where Van Gogh was committed. In the flower-filled convent outside you can discover an exhibition of paintings made in Saint-Rémy, “The Irises,” “Starry Night,” and “Self-Portrait.” Connoisseurs of Roman ruins will continue on to the archaeological site of Glanum.

Back to the Café de la Place for a glass of rosé from Baux de Provence. We’ve come full circle.

Lunch break at the Brasserie Les Variétés; tuna brandade with sea salt from Camargue delights our palette.

Discover

Every Wednesday morning a market takes place on the ring road. Get there early to avoid parking problems.