An Lemmens in Southern France

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Provence

Languedoc-Roussillon

French Riviera

Dordogne / Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Ardeche

During my search for a vacation rental in the South of France, I came across CAP. On their website, I was already able to admire beautiful, traditional Provençal homes nestled among the lavender fields, which had me daydreaming about a wonderful vacation.

Getting in touch was very easy. I received a reply to my email very quickly. What I really appreciate about CAP is the personal approach. It’s a small company—you know who you’re talking to—and the service is very personalized. So I shared our preferences for the vacation home (a quiet location, close to a village, number of bedrooms, a pool at a safe distance in the garden, etc.), and CAP sent me a few suggestions that very same day. Without a doubt, we immediately spotted our perfect match. A typical Provençal, authentic mas. The ideal place to explore the beautiful surroundings and to unwind. I’d love to share my personal tips!

Châteaurenard

Right in the middle between Avignon and St. Rémy-de-Provence, nestled at the foot of a hill, lies the small town of Châteaurenard. With its feudal towers and historic town center, you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped back in time to the Middle Ages. Sip a Camille de Provence on the village square, visit the ruins of the castle and the small local museum, stroll through the narrow medieval streets, and enjoy the friendliness and tranquility. Châteaurenard is the ideal base from which to explore Provence.

Avignon

Located on the Rhône, this city is world-famous for its bridge (who doesn’t know the song by heart?) and its beautiful sights. We had no trouble parking in a large parking lot on Boulevard de l’Oulle, between the Rhône and the city center. From there, it’s just a 15-minute walk to the historic city center, where you can visit the Palais des Papes, Notre-Dame-des-Doms, the famous Pont Saint-Bénézet, and numerous museums .

Good to know for families with (young) children: Due to the many stairs, the Papal Palace cannot be visited with a stroller, but you can leave your stroller at the entrance and exchange it for a baby carrier. There are even baby carriers for different age groups! You’ll also receive a tablet that lets you explore the palace in augmented reality . This gives the kids (and parents 😉) a really good idea of what it looked like there in the past. Plus, there are little activities and games designed to make the visit a real treat for young children!

We visited Avignon in July, during the major theater festival. At every street corner, you can see a performer at work, and the atmosphere in the city is cheerful and lively. Avignon boasts a wealth of history, yet it’s also wonderfully contemporary. It’s a delight to shop in the countless boutiques and small trinket shops, and all the major, well-known brands are represented as well. And in the evening, you can enjoy a delicious dinner at one of the city’s many restaurants.

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

The area around St. Rémy-de-Provence has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The light is exceptionally beautiful here, and that did not escape the notice of Vincent van Gogh . He spent a year in the psychiatric hospital near St-Rémy-de-Provence, and despite his fragile mental health, he was extremely productive in St-Rémy, painting some 150 works there. Incidentally, you can still visit the hospital and the room where Van Gogh stayed. You can also take a walk in the area past spots where you can recognize the painter’s works. If you just want to stroll peacefully and enjoy an aperitif, St. Rémy is definitely the right place for you. On Wednesday and Saturday mornings, you can visit the famous market. Both tourists and locals come here to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, sample the delicious nougat, take in the wonderful scent of the various soaps, and, around noon when the market is winding down, pull up a chair at a cozy outdoor café.

Acorn

Near St. Rémy-de-Provence, you can also visit the historic site of the ancient Roman city of Glanum . A quick tip: park your car for free at the St. Paul de Mausole hospital instead of in the paid parking lot at the archaeological site. From the street, you have free access to “Les Antiques”, a mausoleum and a triumphal arch that are exceptionally well-preserved. The rest of the site requires an admission fee, but it’s well worth it. You’ll step into a time machine and be catapulted back to the 6th century B.C. A big plus is that a Dutch-language audio guide is available on site. Keep in mind, though, that it can get very hot there during the summer months. Visit the site as early in the day as possible, bring water, and protect yourself from the sun.

Our vacation home, Mas des Oiseaux

There are plenty of beautiful and interesting places to discover during your vacation in Provence.

But I’ve saved the most important tip for last: our vacation home ‘Mas des Oiseaux’. A beautiful, authentic, and spacious farmhouse, located on a quiet country road near Châteaurenard. The beautifully maintained garden is a real gem, with the lovely swimming pool—located all the way at the back—as the icing on the cake. With 4 bedrooms and just as many bathrooms, there’s plenty of space here for a relaxing vacation with family or friends. There’s even a small mas on the property that you can rent as an add-on if you’d like. The garden’s landscaping and the covered terrace provide cozy and welcoming spots of shade all day long.

On the first day of our stay, we said to each other, “Why don’t we come here for a month next year?” And by the end of the vacation, that had already turned into, “Wouldn’t they want to sell this? Then we’d come live here permanently!”

People sometimes say, “There’s no place like home.” Well, I’d dare to disagree with that 😃