Les Baux and St Remy de Provence

Travel from the coast through shifting landscapes up into Les Alpilles, a small range of low limestone mountains, to two medieval villages located inside what is today a regional park. At the first stop, Les Baux de Provence, your guided visit begins at the top: the town’s 11th-century chateau-fortress, perched on a high rocky outcrop. Its ruins and high walls offer exceptional views over the mountains, the valley below and over the Camargue. The village itself seems to cling to the steep hillside, its cobblestone narrow streets and alleys lined with stone buildings, many of which house boutiques, craft shops, art galleries and small museums. As you walk, your guide will highlight the medieval and Renaissance legacy at such sights as the Church of Saint Vincent, which is dug into the rock, and the austerely beautiful Chapel of the White Penitents, set near the cliff's edge. There will be some time for exploring on your own before lunch at the Baumanière, a Relais & Chateaux boutique hotel. The property established some 70 years ago, features restored heritage architecture and serene gardens surrounded by native vegetation. Enjoy a three-course meal with wine at the elegant yet relaxed La Cabro d’Or, which showcases local and Provencal specialties prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients, including organic produce grown on site. From Les Baux, you’ll travel past the thicker forest of the northern Alpilles to St. Rémy, an enchanting town renowned as the birthplace of the 16th-century philosopher Nostradamus and as an inspiration for Vincent Van Gogh. The painter created a number of famous works while undergoing treatment at a psychiatric clinic. The old portes, vestiges of the 14th-century walls that protected St.-Remy for centuries, still serve as the entranceways into the Vielle Ville. Through them you’ll discover a charming and low-key medieval district of narrow lanes and alleys, and pretty little squares and fountains. Your guide will orient you on an hour-long narrated walk, after which you can wander, browse the shops or relax in café.