"Alchemy" is a combination of two fully renovated and beautifully decorated self-contained apartments connected by a wide stone spiral staircase in an historic 14th century stone building right in the centre of picturesque Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, offering a total of 5 double bedrooms each with its own ensuite bathroom, elegant living rooms and dining areas, well-equipped kitchens and a roof top terrace where you can admire the 360 degree views of the village rooftops and surrounding countryside.
Built as the presbytery for the church, once home to the parish priest, when the popes resided in Avignon in the 14th century, "Alchemy" is tucked away on a pedestrian lane in the historic centre of St Rémy, footsteps to cafés, restaurants, bars, the legendary Wednesday morning market, boutiques, museums, and galleries. Bakeries, butchers, grocery and wine stores are all nearby.
During its recent transformation the original stone windows, archways, timber beams and even a well were discovered and now feature in this magnificent haven known as "Alchemy". (You can read more about the history of the building below).
The penthouse level apartment is two flights up with a spacious living/dining area, kitchen, 3 double bedrooms, 3 ensuite bathrooms and ducted reverse cycle air conditioning.
Each of the three bedrooms have a comfortable hotel quality bed with crisp cotton sheets, Provençal bedcover and adequate storage for your stay. Each bedroom has a travertine ensuite with large walk-in shower, basin and toilet, white fluffy towels and quality olive oil soaps provided.
La Chambre des Plumes (bedroom of feathers) can be made up as 1 x 180cm wide bed or 2 x 90cm wide single beds. La Chambre des Anges (bedroom of angels) and La Chambre des Fleurs (bedroom of flowers) each have 1 x 160cm wide bed.
The ground floor apartment is on the street entry level without any steps at all and offers 2 double bedrooms, 2 ensuite bathrooms, spacious kitchen/living area and separate dining for 10 people.
La Chambre des Papillons (bedroom of butterflies) and La Chambre des Cristals (bedroom of crystals) both have a comfortable hotel quality 160cm wide bed with crisp cotton sheets, Provençal bedcover and adequate storage for your stay. Each bedroom has a travertine ensuite with large walk-in shower, basin and toilet, white fluffy towels and quality olive oil soaps provided.
The authentic limestone walls and travertine flooring keep this ground floor apartment cool in the warmer months. If needed there are air conditioning units in the main living areas, and cooling fans in the bedrooms. When the weather is cooler wall-mounted radiators keep the apartment very cosy.
Parking:-
Guests can have access to 2 dedicated parking spaces in a secure lot located about 200 metres from the apartment. After your reservation is confirmed we can provide more details.
There is also a free public carpark about 300 metres away. It's located behind the Police Municipale in avenue de la Liberation.
Metre parking can often be found in the streets nearby or in the carpark opposite the church. You will need to take a ticket from the machine and display it on your dashboard. The first 45 minutes are free and then it's 2⏠per hour 9am-7pm. It's free from 7pm-9am. Be aware of any signs with "stationnement interdit" as it's forbidden to park here on the days/times shown, especially from 6am-3pm on Wednesdays when the weekly market is on.
More about the building's history...
This unique building was originally the presbytery of the 14th-century church, once home to the parish priest. At the top of the spiral staircase, you'll find the original bell tower, which would have featured a decorative metal frame and a bell used to call parishioners to worship and mark time for the village.
The bell tower predates the church spire, which was donated by the Popes during the Avignon Papacyâa time when this region held great religious and political importance. These papal contributions highlight the historic connection between Saint-RĂ©my and the Papal seat in Avignon.
Today, the building has been thoughtfully renovated into two charming apartments, preserving the original architectural details while adding modern comfort. Guests renting the penthouse apartment (or both units together) have exclusive access to the bell tower rooftop terrace, a magical spot to watch the sunset and soak in panoramic views of the town.
On the ground floor, youâll also find a 14th-century well, no longer in use but beautifully preserved as a decorative tribute to the buildingâs long and storied past.
Itâs truly a one-of-a-kind place to stayâsteeped in history, full of character, and perfectly located in the heart of St RĂ©my.
Some recent reviews of the 2nd floor:-
"Stay here!! I have stayed in many airbnbs all over the world and this is by far the best. Karen has thought of everything! She has anticipated every need of a guest-she really knows hospitality. The place was gorgeous and well decorated! Super clean. The beds were comfortable. There was air conditioning, which is of course hard to find in Europe. The 360 degree rooftop view is the most magical place to enjoy a sunset. Motion sensor lights in parts of the house. A well stocked kitchen. Washer/dryer in the unit. Easy walk to parking. A bottle of rose to welcome us. And to top it all off, youâre in the BEST part of town. You really couldnât ask for more. We are already planning our next trip back."
"Karenâs apartment in a historical building and our stay in St. Remy were the highlights of our family trip to Provence. It is even more amazing than it looks in the photos, and the rooftop terrace was delightful at sunset and sunrise. The location is a great jumping off point for exploring Pont du Gard, Avignon, Arles and more and parking was convenient. It was hot in August and the air conditioning worked well. We had no issues with the circular stairs, the railing is very sturdy. Places like this transform travel into an exceptional experience, especially for a family trip."
"We loved our stay at Karen's place. What an amazing find. You need to stay here for the roof terrace alone. It was the highlight to have dinner at the rooftop and see the sunset while looking over the beautiful village. The place is absolutely amazing - do not hesitate, just book it. You will not regret it! "
Hope to see you here soon!