Around a 10-minute drive north of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Maison Centurion is in the Bouches-du-Rhône department of southern France, a fine location for visiting Avignon, Nîmes and Rhône valley vineyards alongside the beautiful landscapes and villages of both Les Alpilles and the Luberon.
The house is in a rural setting surrounded by farmland and countryside with a couple of neighbouring houses. A small traditional village is 5 minutes by car with a handful of restaurants/cafes as well as other useful amenities and a Thursday morning market. Other local villages include Eyragues (4km), Graveson (5.5km) and Châteaurenard (9km) whilst the historic riverside town of Tarascon (14km) is also easily reached. Around this part of Provence admire olive groves, orchards, farming land and cypress trees, on the edge of the Parc naturel régional des Alpilles.
Heading south, bustling Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (7km) is the gateway to Les Alpilles, a town known for its art galleries and Van Gogh heritage. Dine out in atmospheric restaurants and soak up the ambience of the wonderful Wednesday morning market where regional traders showcase a wealth of delicious produce and artisan crafts.
Driving through the idyllic scenery of Les Alpilles, visit hilltop Les Baux-de-Provence (14km), one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’, enjoy lunch on the village square in Maussane-les-Alpilles (17km), follow the windmill walking route near Fontvieille (18km) and celebrity-spot in idyllic Eygalières (20km). Walk or hike through olive groves, forests and glorious limestone valleys.
Another lovely day out is L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (32km), famed for its antique stores and Sunday morning brocante. Follow hiking trails near Fontaine-de-Vaucluse (37km) or canoe/kayak along the Sorgue River before venturing to the Luberon with its iconic perched villages – Gordes, Ménerbes and Roussillon are less than an hour away.
Meanwhile, there are the great historic cities of Avignon (20km) and Nîmes (44km), the foothills of Mont Ventoux (Bédoin is an hour away by car, a mecca for cyclists) and the vineyards of the Rhône valley with the wineries of Châteauneuf-du-Pape (33km) within a 45-minute drive north.
