La Maison du Village

Warm contemporary interiors and a walled courtyard garden in the old town of St Remy

St Remy is a bit of a Mecca in Provence. The Wednesday market sprawls all over town, Van Gogh had his stay in hospital here (you can visit his cell) and Nostradamus was born here. It is also bang in the middle: head north for Avignon, south for Arles, west for Uzes and east for the Luberon. This 1750s townhouse sits in the heart of the old town, close to the church (in one suite you can lie in a claw-foot bath and look out on its tower). Step through the courtyard gate into a peaceful walled garden, where cast-iron tables and chairs are scattered about, candles flicker at night, water falls from a fountain.

Inside you find a clipped Provencal elegance: bright colours, tiled floors, gilt mirrors, the odd chandelier. Nicely chic, the only clutter being the glossy magazines weighing down the coffee table, most of which hold glowing reviews about La Maison. There are five rooms, four of which have sitting rooms. Breakfast is served in the garden with sunlight filtering down through the branches.

Highs

• The lovely garden in which to escape the crowd
• The suites: clear, stylish uncluttered, charming
• You’re in the heart of Provence: everywhere that matters is within 1/2 hour's drive
• Take to the paths of the Alpilles hills and follow in Van Gogh's footsteps

Lows

• The town can get extremely busy in high season
• No off-street parking, and the car parks can fill up quickly
• No pool, but one is available locally for guests to use
• The 2-bedroom suite Violette has only one bathroom, accessed through the further bedroom only