Located at the entrance to the historic centre of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Place Jean-Jaurès occupies a strategic position in the town’s urban layout. While less architecturally historic than some of the smaller squares within the old town, it serves as a lively transition space linking the outer boulevards, public parking areas, and the pedestrian shopping streets of the historic centre.

Today, it functions as a popular arrival and orientation point for visitors discovering Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.

An Important Tourist Reception Area

Place Jean-Jaurès is home to the Office de Tourisme Intercommunal Alpilles en Provence, making it a natural starting point for exploring both the town and the surrounding Alpilles region.

Visitors come here to obtain maps, cultural information, details about local markets and hiking routes, as well as guidance on major heritage sites such as Glanum, Saint-Paul de Mausole, and the Van Gogh Walk.

A Functional Square at the Heart of the Town

Unlike more intimate historic squares such as Place Favier or Place Jules-Pellissier, Place Jean-Jaurès fulfils a predominantly practical role within the urban fabric.

The square incorporates an important public parking area, widely used by visitors wishing to reach the historic centre on foot. This function explains why it is often among the first places encountered by travellers arriving in Saint-Rémy.

It also forms a convenient link between the circular boulevards surrounding the old town and the pedestrian shopping streets within the historic centre.

A Family-Friendly Atmosphere

At the rear of the square, a small children’s playground adds a family-oriented dimension to the area. For visitors spending several hours exploring the town, it provides a pleasant place to pause before continuing their visit through the streets of Saint-Rémy.

Who Was Jean Jaurès?

The square is named after Jean Jaurès (1859–1914), one of the most influential political figures of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century France. A prominent advocate of republican socialism, social justice, and pacifism, he played a major role in French political life during the Third Republic.

Like many French municipalities, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence chose to honour Jean Jaurès by naming one of its principal public spaces after him.

A Gateway to Saint-Rémy

Although it is not a major historic monument, Place Jean-Jaurès plays an essential role in the daily life of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. Combining visitor services, public parking, and direct access to the historic centre, it acts as an important urban crossroads connecting the modern town with the historic streets of old Saint-Rémy.