Hi there. I was wondering if anyone could advise on any noticeable differences in these two areas? Does one area have more striking or dramatic scenery for instance?
It%26#39;s hard to choose where to base yourself. We are hoping to visit in June this year and enjoy village life, Roman remains, scenic views...that sort of thing. My OH particularly loves dramatic mountain or hilly scenery. But one of us has limited mobility so staying somewhere excessively hilly is not possible.
Was also wondering about further north around Vaison-la-Romaine? Anyone know that area too?
Cheers
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Hi MollieM,
I urge you to make the Alpilles area your base for your explorations of Western Provence based upon your statement that you enjoy Roman ruins, and dramatic mountain scenery, not just because I%26#39;m an AlpillesGal.
The Alpilles are a dramatically gorgeous series of craggy limestone peaks. On one side you have beautiful vinyards and groves of olive trees at the base of the hills, and on the other side, more of the same plus, just outside of St. Remy, you have Les Antiques, wonderful Roman ruins. The area is also well situated for exploring other nearby Roman antiquities in Arles (about a 30 minute drive from St. Remy), as well as those in Nimes. With access to a car, it is even easy to make day-trips to visit other significant sites such as those in Vaison-la-Romaine and Orange.
While the Luberon is very beautiful, and certainly worthy of at least a day or two of exploration, since your interests are Roman antiquities, I have to tell you that the Luberon is not the place where you are going to find them.
Because you have not explained the extent of the limited mobility, it is impossible to make a valid recommendation regarding a specific place to base yourselves. However, you might want to begin by looking at some places in St. Remy. It has a number of wonderful restaurants and a beautiful wide boulevard that is perfect for a leisurely after-dinner stroll. It%26#39;s a small city/large town that has a true Provencal feel to it.
I hope that this information will be helpful as you continue to make plans for your stay in Western Provence.
AlpillesGal
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Thanks for that Alpillesgirl - I love the sound of the craggy wild scenery, perfect. I wasn%26#39;t after a sort of green Tuscan countryside (as beautiful as that is) but something different.
You obviously know a lot about that region so I wonder if you could advise on whereabouts to base ourselves? I have heard north of St Remy is built up and industrialised. I was looking to stay to the south around Maussane, Les Baux or Eygalieres?
I%26#39;m also keen to get to Arles and wondered if the area to the west of St Remy is picturesque and undeveloped as well? I have seen some accommodations over that way.
Many thanks in advance. Just to elaborate - I can walk a little but strenuous hills and slopes are out. For this reason I considered St Remy as that seems fairly flat and yet it%26#39;s surrounded with places we can drive to for more dramatic views? Would this be correct?
The Luberon villages seemed a little more hard work - if we stayed in the centre of one and had to go up and down to our apartment?
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Both areas are beautiful but the Alpilles are less touristy IMO and St Remy is wonderful, and more or less flat. And the other thing is, they are close enough to one another that you can stay in one and visit the other quite comfortably. I spent a week in St Remy last year and loved it and there are loads of lovely places (Les Baux, Arles, l%26#39;Isle sur la Sorgue) very close by. Assuming you visit the Luberon, don%26#39;t miss Apt which I liked very much because it%26#39;s not really a tourist town.
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Okay, I%26#39;ll be the devil%26#39;s advocate. I love the area around Vaison la Romaine. The area just beyond it is so breathtaking, it is almost heart stopping. Try Brantes, very small village on the edge of a mountain with views that could make you wonder if you are still on earth.
Really, the Luberon area and the Northern Vaucluse can be done on one visit - assuming you have a week or more (sorry, I%26#39;m in a hurry and haven%26#39;t read your entire post - so excuse me if you said how long you%26#39;ll be here).
I have tremendous respect for both Alpillesgal and Chicchantal as they are both very knowledgable and very nice too ! I say, if you can, mix the two areas and see for yourself the difference between the two (both being special - but both being very different IMO).
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This is ALL incredibly helpful - thanks so much.
I know it%26#39;s probably hard to explain and I%26#39;ll probably have to see for myself but I%26#39;m very interested in what toutou mentions i.e. the fact the two areas are very different. In what ways, as this will probably impact my choice? I think this is what I%26#39;ve been trying to get to grips with......?
And yes, I have seen photos of Brantes and it does look like an absolutely stunning location. My OH would be happy as larry sitting and looking at that view.
Sigh......this is what I mean - it%26#39;s so hard to choose an area! Still, it seems like we would have a wonderful trip based anywhere in Provence.
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Hi again MollieM,
I love Vaison-la-Romaine. I guess the main reason that I didn%26#39;t speak out about considering it was that I didn%26#39;t have any feeling regarding the extent of the mobility limitation issue. The ruins there are wonderful and the immediate area is beautiful as well. We have stayed there twice, both tomes at Le Beffroi, a wonderful hotel in the old part of the city where teh streets are quite steep and, thus might present a challange.
AlpillesGal
PS - Now that Toutou has recommended it I have already put Brantes on our to-do list for September, 2009. I hope that you have a wonderful trip.
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I%26#39;m having a similar problem . . . . trying to decide between a small village in the Luberon and a slightly larger village outside of St. Remy. We plan to spend the month of July there with a family (teenage boys) and will travel around by car. But, which one is better to LIVE in? And what are the differences?
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