Updates
Itinerary
The plan so far — ✦ marks the birthday night
Arrival Day
Explore Local Towns & Dinner at Crillon Le Brave
Matty's Birthday ✦
Explore Provence
Departure
Travel Board
A nice spot for everyone's travel info to live in one place
Photo Album
A shared album — everyone can add their snaps
Explore Provence
None of us have been — here's the lay of the land
☀️ October weather
Early autumn in Provence is mild, golden and far quieter than summer — but pack a layer for the evenings and a light rain jacket just in case.
Expect warm, pleasant afternoons and cool nights. October sees roughly 9 rainy days across the month, so showers are possible but rarely all day. Bring: layers, a sweater or light jacket for evenings, comfortable shoes for the cobbled villages, sunglasses, and a packable rain layer.
🧺 Local markets
Go early, bring cash and a basket
- L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue · morning
- Eyragues · 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Arles · 8:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
- Saint-Rémy-de-Provence · morning farmers' market
- Avignon · morning
- L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue · morning, best for market + antiques/brocante
- Châteaurenard · morning
Town guides
Our favorite spots. Tap a town to open it
Arles
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- Hôtel Nord-PinusFor the atmosphere, the terrace and that classic Arles feel
- Chez PaouRelaxed, local option
- INARIAnother great local lunch spot
- LUMA ArlesWorth visiting for the architecture alone, plus the exhibitions
- Fondation Vincent van Gogh ArlesContemporary exhibitions connected to Van Gogh's time in Arles
- Martine BarratEspace Van Gogh
- Harry GruyaertChapelle Saint-Martin du Méjan
- James Barnor“Ghana!” at the Archevêché
- Les Arènes, the Roman Theatre and the old townWander the streets around them
- The Rhône at sunsetWalk along the river as the light goes gold
Avignon
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- Palais des Papes
- Fondation LambertContemporary art museum
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
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- Hôtel de SadeAn archaeological site built over the remains of ancient Roman thermal baths and a grand Gallo-Roman residence
- Saint-Paul-de-Mausole MonasteryThe beautiful Romanesque monastery and former asylum where Vincent van Gogh created some of his most famous works
- La Maison Favier
- Aux Envies
- L'AO Restaurant
- EDU
- Gus
Les Baux-de-Provence
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- Carrières des LumièresSpectacular immersive art exhibitions projected across the enormous walls and floors of a former limestone quarry
- Château des Baux-de-ProvenceThe dramatic ruins of a medieval fortress perched high above the Alpilles. Explore the castle remains, towers and ramparts for incredible panoramic views across Provence
Areas to explore
Drive times from the villa in Eyragues
Eyragues
Our home base, a quiet Alpilles village with cafés, a church square and a lovely Friday morning market right on the doorstep.
Saint-Rémy
Shaded squares, fountains, Roman ruins and great restaurants. See the town guide above.
Châteaurenard
Market town below a ruined castle with two towers. Sunday morning market.
Saint-Paul-de-Mausole Monastery
The Romanesque cloister and former asylum where Van Gogh painted, just outside Saint-Rémy.
Les Baux-de-Provence
Clifftop village, fortress ruins and the Carrières des Lumières.
L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
Canals, waterwheels and the best antiques in Provence. Markets Thursday and Sunday.
Arles
Roman arena, Van Gogh, LUMA and the photography festival. See the town guide above.
Gordes
Honey-stone hilltop village spilling down a cliff above the Luberon valley.
Notre-Dame de Sénanque Abbey
A 12th-century Cistercian abbey tucked in a quiet valley just past Gordes.
Bonnieux
Terraced Luberon village with wide views across the valley.
Roussillon
The ochre village, with red and orange cliffs and the Sentier des Ocres walk.
Lourmarin
Luberon village with a Renaissance château, cafés and a relaxed square.
Aix-en-Provence
Cézanne's city: the Cours Mirabeau, fountains, markets and shopping.
Château La Coste
Wine estate with an art and architecture walk through the vines.
Details
🏡 The Villa
An 18th-century bastide and its old mill in the heart of Eyragues, with a pool and a spacious garden. 10 min from Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, 20 min from Avignon TGV.
📍 La Bastide des Chardons
11 Grande Rue, 13630 Eyragues, France
Open in Google Maps →
✈️ Getting there
By air: the best airport is Marseille Provence (MRS) — roughly 45–50 min drive to the villa.
From Paris: Paris → Avignon, ~3-hr direct train, then ~30 min drive to the villa.
MRS · 45–50 minAvignon TGV · ~30 min🚄 Direct trains from Paris
If you're in Paris first, take a direct TGV INOUI from Paris Gare de Lyon to Avignon TGV — about 2h40 (fastest ~2h36). Roughly 18 direct trains run daily.
⚠️ Book only the “Direct” ones. Each train is labelled Direct or Connection — choose Direct to avoid changing trains (usually at Lyon). And make sure it's Avignon TGV (the high-speed station, ~30 min from the villa), not Avignon Centre.
Where to book: SNCF Connect (the official French rail site & app) or Trainline / Omio in English.
💡 Fares start around €25 and climb closer to the date — book a couple of months ahead for the cheapest seats. October tickets usually go on sale ~4 months prior.
Gare de Lyon → Avignon TGV~2h40 · Directfrom ~€25🗓️ Dates
Arrive Thursday, 8 October · Depart Monday, 12 October.
Four nights in Provence for Matty's big one. 🥂
Ask Matt
The questions everyone's asking