Open the Aix-en-Provence Itinerary Map for reference while you read about the itineraries.
• Roadmap: Michelin #245.
Depart Aix-en-Provence, taking the autoroute A8 west and north, direction Lyon. Take the exit 25 ("Cavaillon") and head west on the tree-lined D99 toward St Remy-de-Provence [detail map].
St Remy-de-Provence is an interesting town, and has enough sites to see to keep you busy for the morning, or the whole day. With its numerous good hotels and restaurants, it's also a good base for exploring the region round-about.
Just a few minutes south of St Remy the road passes the fabulous Roman excavations of Glanum. If you've even the tiniest interest in history, plan at least an hour's stop here. Continuing south from Glanum you're on the road to Les Baux-de-Provence.
Ten km south of St Remy turn right onto the D27 that zig-zags up to Les Baux-de-Provence. This is definitely a site to stop and visit. [map]
Alternate. After Les Baux-de-Provence you can return east to the turnoff, then go south to Maussane-lès-Alpilles (5 km). It isn't the village that's interesting, but a great Santon museum and shop at the village entrance, on the left. After visiting the Santons, go west through Maussane-lès-Alpilles village towards Fontvieille.
From Les Baux-de-Provence continue west on the scenic D78 road towards Fontvieille (8 km).
At the southern edge of the village is the Moulin de Daudet, Daudet's windmill.
Continuing southwest from Fontvieille it's only another 10 km to the center of Arles.
On the left side of the road as you're entering Arles are the ruins of the Montmajour Abbey. Inside the town of Arles are great sites and many hotels and restaurants. Among our many visits, we spent Millennium eve and night here.
From the center of Arles follow the main A54/E80 highway west (direction Nimes) across the river, and exit immediately (exit 5) onto the D570 road south, direction Saintes Maries-de-la-Mer. [map] The D570 goes down the west side of the Camargue.
About 10 km from Arles, on the left, is a typical regional "mas" (farmhouse) museum. At different places along the road are places where you can take horse riding tours. Near the end of the road, 4 km before arriving at Saintes Maries, look for the Ornithological Park on the left. We highly recommend this place, for the natural observation settings and the walks around the marshes.
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