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Aix-en-Provence Itineraries |
Aix Martigue |
Aix St-Remy |
Aix Verdon |
Aix Historic NE |
Aix Historic NW |
Aix Historic S |
Aix Historic SE |
This route is 143 km, 2h13 driving time, from Aix-en-Provence via Arles to Sainte Maries-de-la-Mer. Aix-en-Provence via Arles only is 105 km, 1h43.
Route Map
Route. [76 km, 57 min] (57 km to the Cavaillon autoroute exit; 19 km to St Rémy)
Go south out of Aix and onto the A8/E80 autoroute westbound, direction Lyon. Continue towards Lyon for 57 km (35 minutes), and take exit 25 (Cavaillon). After the toll booth, follow signs towards St-Rémy-de-Provence. This puts you on the tree-lined D99 southwest to Saint Rémy.
Gallo-Roman town where Van Gogh painted Starry Night; medieval walls, stone fountains, Nostradamus born, Dr Albert Schweitzer prisoner; many museums; nearby Roman Glanum. With its numerous good hotels and restaurants it's a good base for exploring the region.
Location: 20 km northeast of Arles; 15 km south of Avignon; 15 km west of Cavaillon.
Route. [10 km, 12 min]
Go south from St Rémy on the D5 (direction Les Baux, Maussane/Alpilles).
In 1 km stop at Glanum - don't miss this.
7 km south of St Rémy turn right (east) onto the D27 that zig-zags up to Les Baux-de-Provence.
A pair of Roman monuments and an excavated Roman town on a site dating from the 4th century BC. A "must see"; plan at least an hour's stop here.
Location: 1 km south of Saint Rémy-de-Provence.
A very picturesque village with a royal history and high fortified ruins, sitting in the beautiful Alpilles mountains south of Avignon. Several museums; the Cathédral d'Images picture palace in a cave; olive oil mills.
Location: In the beautiful Alpilles mountains, 20 south of Avignon; 15 km northeast of Arles.
Route. [8 km, 9 min]
Continue southwest from Les Baux on the scenic D78f, then the D17 to Fontvieille.
•Alternate. [5 km] Return east on the D27 3 km; right (south) on the D5 to Maussane-les-Alpilles. At the entry to Maussane is a very noce Santons museum. Leave Maussane-les-Alpilles to the west on the D17 and continue the route to Fohntvieille.
Fontvieille
An ancient town with prehistoric and Roman ancestry, now quite urban but with nice architecture. 14th-century watch tower Tour l'Abbé beside a 16th-c building. 19th-c Chateau de Montauban where Daudet stayed. 17th-c Chateau de Barbegal; 12th-c ruins of the Montpaon fortified castle. The 18th-century Daudet windmills 1 km south.
Location: 8 km northeast of Arles; 8 km southwest of Les Baux-de-Provence.
Route. [10 km, 15 min]
Continue southwest on the D17 to Arles. Entering from the north, the ruins of the Montmajour Abbey are on your left.
•Alternate. [1 km] The Daudet Windmills are 1 km south on the Allée des Pins, past the Office de Tourisme. After a short visit, return to town, turn left and continue on the D17 southwest.
Large Gallo-Roman town on the Rhone, with its Arena and Theater; Van Gogh painted here; rice festival and bull fighting. Museums, hotels and restaurants.
Location: 30 km southeast of Nîmes; 35 km south of Avignon.
Route. [38 km, 38 min]
From the Quai de la Roquette along the river (west side of town), signs will take you south up onto the N113/E80 (direction Nîmes). Cross the river and take the first exit (#4); at the roundabout go south on the D570 to Saintes Maries-de-la-Mer.
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.
Marshy fields of black bulls, white horses, Provencal cowboys, pink flamingos and migratory birds.
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