This is an ode to Sainy Remy de Provence in December. A love note to streets lined with boutiques and twinkly lights. These photos were taken last week, during the weekend-long Christmas market in Saint Remy. We generally don’t have snow for Christmas, but we have nougat, confit chestnuts, foie gras and lots and lots of very fresh oysters.
Saint Remy de Provence Christmas Market
This handsome fellow is Antoine, a shepherd that comes down every year from the Drome region to roast chestnuts at the Saint Remy de Provence Christmas market. Don’t worry- he leaves the sheep in very good hands.
At the St Remy Christmas market, you’ll find all sorts of lovely artisan crafts as well as impressive bulbs, homemade jams, champagne and more.
Fiston, a very popular boutique in Saint Remy which sells shabby chic style home decoration.
Perhaps my favourite building in town. This old-style sign for a hair salon is ridiculously charming.
Pink Bliss and the Emile Garcin real estate office just in case you’re tempted…
A perfect evening meander down these lit streets…
Tellement Francais! All that’s missing is the baguette. Yes, that is still a common sight here.
Notice the vine on this beautiful building. Dormant during the winter but still beautiful. The religious figure on the corner of the building on the left is a common sight in Europe as they were used as outdoor points of worship during times of plague.
The sexiest bakery in town (Michel Marshall) next to the sexiest cheese shop in town. Fa la la la la la la la!
The beautiful Maison de Marguerite B. Wonderful for unique gifts.
The town hall surrounded by plane trees, the same trees that you see lining extensive lengths of roadside here in Provence. Napolean ordered these trees to be planted en mass on main roads in order to shade his soldiers from the sun. Napolean, we salute you! These beautiful trees are cut back severely every year which is why they look so wonderfully knobbly during the winter months.
Et voila! The shells of our roasted chestnuts. During a Christmas market, it is perfectly acceptable to toss them on the floor. What you don’t see is that we’re sipping on champagne to keep warm…
Ashley, so many nice memories you brought back.I love the photography, the quaint sights that your experienced eye picks out to delight us, and especially the tips of places to go and shops to frequent. (Some are favorites.) Just a note as a former grammarian, a “site” is a place on the Internet, a “sight” is something you see. I’m sure you want to get it right for all your many avid fans and readers. Hope you both have a great holiday,
Paul
Hi Paul, Thank you for your tip! It has been corrected. I have to admit that I, too, don’t appreciate spelling mistakes! Thank you for reading.
THis is brilliant, Ash! Joyeaux Noel!
My nephew Hunter is marrying in May and honeymooning in Portugal. Where should he look for your reports on your trip?
Your blog makes me itchy to return to Provence, esp. St. Remy!
Enjoy Alsace with your honey, and raise a glass of Pinot Gris to yourselves! So happy about how your blog has taken off…..step by step, baby!
Love, Suzy
Hi Suzy, Thank you so much for your kind words. How did you know that Pinot Gris is my favourite grape here in Alsace? haha. I’ll be posting about Portugal soon. Not sure what exactly to write just yet but I have some stunning photos of the Douro region. I hope that your nephew and his wife to be will be able to visit there. Everyone raves about Lisbon but I have to admit that I loved Porto. It’s such a romantic city.
Makes me want to visit St Remy again too!! Love how you throw a little history into your post.
Have fun in Alsace. Looking forward to you sharing the experience!
Thank you!
Gorgeous! I was in Provence last year but nearer Apt. I love Saint-Rémy so being there at Christmas must’ve been fab. Menèrbes for the truffle market after Christmas was fun and Lourmarin was my favourite market each Friday. L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue was almost too bus on Sundays! Have a wonderful Christmas… x
The Menerbes truffle market is indeed wonderful! Isle sur la Sorgue can indeed get crazy. Especially for parking! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you!
Always enjoy catching the latest news & photo shoots from Curious P. Wonderful blog site…can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2018! Best Wishes
Thank you Shelley! Happy New Year!
So I landed here via chalk paint and old shutters. Good luck to you with your ongoing labour of love.
Greetings from the Perigord.
haha why thank you! Fun to see your navigation. I hope you’re not too sick of truffles up there in the Perigord? Or…is that possible?
If I couuld live permanently in France, St-Remy-de-Provence would be my home.
Spent several wonderful weeks there a few years back; this winter renting in Nice.
I must research again the winters in St.Remy, perhaps I will return.
I’m a writer and I use the winter months to research and write my books out of the very cold Canadian winters 🙂
Thank you for this article and reminding me how much I felt at home in St. Remy.
Hi Zoe! Winter is the perfect time for research and writing, that’s what I do too! Hello to a fellow Canadian. I must admit, I miss the snow, though only for about a month…not six!! haha.