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Alpilles Saint Remy de Provence - 14km - 18 minutes by car Charming, leafy, picturesque town. Van Gogh produced around 150 paintings in the area, inspired by the light and landscapes. Nostradamus was born here and Dr Albert Schweitzer was a prisoner of war at the St Remy Mental Institution. Stroll through the narrow winding streets and discover beautiful old fountains, shady squares, delightful restaurants, art galleries and boutiques. Wednesday markets are an experience not to be missed. Nearby, the Roman ruins of the ancient city of Galnum, built in the 3rd century BC, are set amongst magnificent scenery. Tarascon - 5.5km - 7 minutes drive by car Explore King Rene’s Chateau de Tarascon, a medieval castle built in the 1400’s and one of the landmarks of the Rhone. Learn about Tartarin de Tarascon, a mythical character from the childrens books by Alphonse Daudet and discover the legend of how Saint Marthe saved the locals from a dragon called Tarasque ! The Souleiado museum and shop have a wonderful display of provincial fabrics. The Tuesday market is a great place to stock up on fresh local produce. Visit Beaucaire, a short walk over the bridge crossing the Rhone. Cafes and restaurants line the canal and the castle hosts a first class eagle and falconry display. Les Baux de Provence - 20km - 20 minutes by car Spectacularly positioned village and classified as ‘one of the most beautiful villages in France’ The medieval fortress, perched on a rocky outcrop, offers panoramic views over the vineyards and olive orchards of Provence. Traces of habitation in this remarkable landscape, date back from as early as 6000 BC. Narrow cobbled stone streets with shops selling provincial wares. Enjoy the magnificent views from the many cafes and restaurants or picnic in the beautiful surrounding countryside. The Cathedrale d’Images, a cool limestone quarry, is displaying more than 3000 illuminated and revolving images of the work of Pablo Picasso this year. Fontvieille – 14km - 18 minutes by car Picturesque village with ancient houses built from stone extracted from the famous quarries founded in the 15th century. Alphonse Daudet wrote his famous "Lettres de Mon Moulin" here. The Moulin de Daudet is one of the most famous literary landmarks in France and you can walk to the mill and small museum through an avenue of pine. |