Rognonas is only a short drive or bus-ride away from the breath-taking beauty of the walled medieval city of Avignon, one of France’s chief visitor attractions. Nearby is the village of Chateaurenard, dominated by its hilltop ruined castle, and where, typically of many such villages, local or provencal markets take over the streets on a Sunday.
The range of places to visit within an hour or less of Mas Saint Antoine is almost endless. Nearby is the enchanting village of St Remy where Van Gogh lived and painted for a time. Not surprisingly, therefore, the area is renowned for its sunflowers besides its lavender and wild poppies. Vineyards and olive groves predominate, lending the landscape its distinctive personality. Those who are interested in ancient history will find the area truly remarkable – there is an extensive Roman site at Glanum, just outside St Remy, with substantial Roman remains such as amphitheatres to be found at nearby Arles and Nimes, not to mention the astounding triple-decker Roman viaduct, the Pont du Gard, readily accessible. For those inspired by medieval architecture, there are castles and monasteries aplenty: and perhaps the most appealing of these, a medieval village and fortress known as Les Baux, also affords superlative views over the countryside and towards the distinctive range of mountains called Les Alpilles – the little Alps.
Then there is the Camargue which is Western Europe's largest river delta. A vast plain comprising large brine lagoons, the Camargue is cut off from the sea by sandbars and encircled marshes which are themselves surrounded by farmland - a third of the Camargue is either lakes or marshland. The central area has been protected as a regional park since 1927 as a haven for wild birds, particularly flamingos. The region has also become famous for its distinctive wild bulls and horses.
