Maison Chambord is set amongst other villas on the edge of a charming village in Les Alpilles Natural Park in the fabulous Provence region of southern France, a 20-minute drive from St-Rémy-de-Provence.
The nearby village (1km) is so full of quiet, authentic charm that it has been discovered by a small handful of A-list celebrities who have bought houses here away from the glitz of the French Riviera. There is a church, bakery, butchers, a handful of restaurants, bars and an atmospheric weekly Provençal market. The main street winds up to the old village from which there are some spectacular views over Les Alpilles.
There are many walks and bike rides through the nearby olive groves and vineyards accompanied by the fragrance of Mediterranean herbs and the background noise of cicadas. Indeed, you are in the heart of an amazing area of vineyards, idyllic villages, world-renowned towns, and summer swathes of sunflowers both in Les Alpilles Natural Park and beyond. There are so many family friendly activities to be enjoyed including hiking and mountain biking along its many trails, horse riding, and rock climbing while the gentler pursuits of tennis and golf are easily accessible.
Nearby St-Rémy-de-Provence (14km) is popular with artists, many of whom live in the area and sell their art in the village’s galleries. The town is renowned for its many restaurants, from bistros to Michelin starred restaurants, and food lovers who want to cook at home shouldn’t miss the Wednesday morning market.
South of St-Rémy-de-Provence is Les Baux-de-Provence (22km), classified as one of France’s Plus Beaux Villages, perched high on a rocky plateau with pretty squares, narrow streets, little shops and a fortified-château. There are some good walking trails around the village or you may prefer to go straight to the surrounding vineyards and olive groves to sample some of the region’s excellent produce. Just south of Les Baux is Mausanne-les-Alpilles which produces some of the best olive oil in France using the energy of its two windmills.
Head northwards from Maison Chambord towards the lively city of Avignon (30km), explore its winding medieval streets and visit its two UNESCO world heritage sites, the Pope’s Palace and Pont Saint-Bénézet, the famous medieval bridge across the Rhône. The covered market offers all kinds of treasures and delights while the weekend farmers’, flower and flea markets are great for finding local produce and a bargain or two.
Another city worth visiting is Arles (40km), renowned for its incredible architecture and fascinating Roman remains. It was much loved by Vincent Van Gogh who managed to paint many works during his relatively short time in the city. There is a self-guided walking tour here following the artist’s footsteps with reproduction paintings on easels indicating the actual places painted.
A short drive southwards from Arles is the fabulous Camargue Regional Park, a beautiful melange of salt marshes, lagoons and sea with pink flamingos, black bulls, wild white horses, rice fields and endless wild countryside and beaches, covering 900 square kilometres of land. Endless activities can be enjoyed here from horse-riding, trekking, quad biking to exciting jeep tours across this unique area. Its capital, Sainte-Maries-de-la-Mer, is only 60km away from home and has some fine sandy beaches.
