Strolling in Saint-Remy-de-Provence.

#Nostradamus#CharlesGounod#Mireille#SaintMartinChurch

#Mireille#ChapelleJeandeRenaud#MuseedeAlpilles

Thursday we ventured to Saint-Remy-de-Provence, one of the oldest towns in France.

We arrived early and still had a time finding a parking spot, it's a good thing we are not afraid of walking and are able to walk. We avoided coming on a market day and had no specific itinerary. Our travel agent (me) had not done any research before leaving so we weren't sure what to expect ... we had been told by a waiter last week that we should visit this town!

It turns out there was plenty to see and do in this charming town; so I am warning you this will be a lengthy post with many photo postcards. 

We spent the morning just walking the streets and squares of the town ...

In the background ...the Gothic style "Chapelle Jean de Renaud" with its XIV th Century Church tower is all that remains of the medieval Church which collapsed in 1818.

The new neo- classical Church ... Saint Martin which was rebuilt in 1821. 

                                  

The War Memorial in remembrance of all the lost children during the wars.

                                     

   The town was the birth place of Nostradamus in 1503.

                              

Bonjour Madame et Monsieur!

Black and White ...

                                    

 

The Musée des Alpilles and what is through this arch?

                                      

This pretty, colourful and fun square ...

                                          

 

Everywhere you look there are little niches some with religious statues and others are architectural designs commerating certain events ...

This one refers to the French composer Charles Gounod who lived in Saint Remy while he wrote the score for the opera "Mireille". One of his more familiar works is "Ava Maria"

                                       

It's lunch time again ... today's highlight for me was dessert but not by choice, the electricity had gone out in the town sometime while we were eating and when it came time for the dessert the waiter said all we could have was ice cream ... I don't usually have ice cream, it was creamy, delicious coffee and vanilla ... perfect on a hot day!

We haven't even made it to the Tourist Office yet, what information will we find there?

What will we get up to this afternoon?

Hope you enjoyed the stroll through the town with us and felt like you were there too!

As it turns out I am going to do this post in two parts ... check back later for Part Two.