Weekends Away
Arles
Arles was never going to compare well having come from Nîmes. Arles has a connection with Vincent Van-Gogh; the painter lived in Arles’ hospital for many years and a number of Van-Gogh’s paintings are scenes of Arles.
Nîmes
Like many of the towns around Avignon, Nîmes can boast of a selection of Roman buildings including a coliseum. Monuments and gardens from later periods are also dotted around the town. There is more than enough to do to fill a few days of sightseeing.
Narbonne
Narbonne is a town near the Mediterranean coast in France. Its claim to fame is being home to the first Roman road in Gaul – which you can still see and stand on.
Saint Etienne
Saint Etienne however was not the prettiest French town. It felt functional and had all you could need living locally. It did not feel small either. The buildings and tower blocks appeared to stretch on for some distance.
Vienne
Vienne is a town half an hour south of Lyon. We visited during the summer months arriving and leaving by train. Vienne is one of many towns that line the River Rhône and form a strip of commuter friendly locations to live.