Holiday dialysis in France – Provence.
Provence through the eyes of a person on dialysis: An extraordinary journey full of sunshine and lavender.
I have been dreaming of Provence for a long time. The sun, the azure sea, the lavender fields – all this tempted me like a magnet. However, as a person on dialysis, I knew that such a trip would require careful planning and additional preparations.
Fortunately, it turned out that Provence, like the rest of France, is a dialysis-friendly place. In Arles, I easily found a clinic where I could receive regular dialysis.
Booking dialysis and accommodation in Provence.
The clinic belongs to the Diaverum group, and importantly accepts the European insurance card, the so-called EHIC CARD. My dialysis was done for free – everything is covered by EHIC CARD.
I booked dialysis on the website bookdialysis.com.
The reservation was made without any problems. I was able to set the days and times of the treatments.
The clinic in Arles is located at 860 Chem. de Fourchon, official website of the clinic – Arles holiday dialysis.
Positive experience at dialysis – helpful staff and a seamless procedure.
My accommodation was arranged in a small house in the town of Saint Martin de Crau, located just 20 km from Arles. I made my reservations through the AIRBNB platform. Remember when booking accommodation always look for deals with free cancellation at least a week before arrival.
Provence offers many other dialysis clinics. However, the clinic in Arles is, in my opinion, the optimal choice to visit Provence.
Saint Martin de Crau is an ideal base for exploring the area. The cottage was charming and comfortable, and the owners were extremely hospitable. Most of the main towns in Provence are within a max 1 hr drive by car. This is my cottage in Provence – click.
I explored Provence using my own car. This gave me a lot of freedom and allowed me to reach the most beautiful corners of the region. During my trip I visited many charming towns:
- Arles
- Baux de Provence
- Gordes
- Roussillon
- Menerbes
- Aix en Provence
- Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
- Saignon
- Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
- Sisteron
- Eygliers
- Aqueduct Pont-du-Gard
- Cassis
- Car route near Cassis, the so-called Route de Cretes
Day one, visiting Provence during dialysis.
I started dialysis at the clinic in Arles at 12:30 p.m. and ended at 4:30 p.m.
Before dialysis, I went to see a charming town near Arles – Baux de Provence. The town is located only 20 km from Arles. Baux de Provence is a charming town located on a rocky hill in southern France, in the heart of Provence. It is known for its medieval history, impressive views and picturesque streets. During your stay in the town, it is worth buying regional specialties such as Nougat and truffle pastes.
After dialysis, I always spent time in the beautiful city of Arles. Ending dialysis at 4:30 p.m. was the optimal choice. Most restaurants and cafes only opened around 6 p.m.
Arles: City of sun, wind and van Gogh.
Arles, called the Little Rome of Provence, has a rich history dating back to the times of Julius Caesar. It was here that Vincent van Gogh created his masterpieces and lost his ear. Many impressive monuments from ancient times have been preserved to this day:
- Arena Arles
- Roman Theater
- Alyscamps Cemetery
Visiting Arles is easy, all attractions are concentrated within the old town. They are mainly ancient monuments, wonderful Provençal tenement houses and narrow streets. Also in Arles you will find a large market offering local products, fruits and vegetables. The market is open on Wednesday and Saturday.
Day two, visiting three small towns in Provence.
Today is a day off from dialysis, so I planned a full-day trip to the Luberon region.
The first stop was Roussillon, famous for its ocher rocks and houses. Walking through the narrow streets and admiring the colorful architecture is a real pleasure. It is also worth visiting the Sentier des Ocre, a path leading through ocher quarries.
After visiting the beautiful, but extremely touristy Roussillon, I decided to see Saignon.
A tiny Provençal town inhabited by only about 1,000 people. If you want to take a break from the crowds of tourists, Saignon will be the perfect choice. Here you will find a wonderful square with a fountain and a very good pastry shop that I recommend to you – Chez Christine.
At the end of the day I went to the famous viewpoint in Gordes. A truly unique place, you can see the entire town and its surroundings.
Day three, visiting street market in Arles, dialysis, explore Eygliers and Saint Remy de Provence.
The third day was exceptionally active. Before dialysis, I went shopping at the market in Arles. The famous market was located on the main street in Arles. I felt the true atmosphere of Provence there. Vendors offered local products. I was treated to cheese, honey and wine many times.
After shopping, unfortunately I went to dialysis.
The next point of the day after dialysis was visiting two towns near Arles.
First coffee stop was the romantic Eygliers.
After resting, I set out to see the tourist site of Saint Remy de Provence – the city of Van Gogh and Nostradamus.
Saint Remy de Provence is an exceptionally well-kept city. Beautifully decorated buildings with colorful shutters and many romantic squares. I recommend to everyone a tiny creperie – Creperie Lou Planet located on Favier Square.
Day four – full-day rest by the sea.
Today is a day off from dialysis. I decided to spend the whole day at the seaside Cassis.
In the morning, after leaving home early, I set off from Arles to Cassis.
I spent the first part of the day visiting the charming town of Cassis.
Cassis is primarily an old fishing port. By the port you will find many restaurants offering delicious seafood. I recommend Le Canaille restaurant to everyone, a real treat. Cassis itself does not have a typical old town, but the atmosphere of a fishing town is perfect for relaxation. In Cassis, there is a very nice sandy beach with a phenomenal view of Cap Canaille – one of the highest cliffs in Europe.
I spent the afternoon on a car trip along the famous Route de Cretes. The 15-kilometer road is very winding, offering breathtaking views of the French Riviera. I stopped at several viewpoints to admire the panorama of the sea and the surrounding Calanques National Park.
Day five – visiting the aqueduct Pont-du-Gard after dialysis.
I didn’t have many plans that day. Tired from the previous day, I decided to rest in my cottage before dialysis. The only point of the day is to visit the famous aqueduct in the afternoon, the so-called Pont-du-Gard. Straight after dialysis, I set out to see the aqueduct before sunset.
Pont du Gard is an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge, built in the 1st century AD. It is one of the best-preserved objects of this type in the world and a true symbol of ancient engineering. Pont du Gard was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.
Day six – visiting Aix Saint Provence, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie and Sisteron
Another day, this time completely free from dialysis. My plan was very intense. I wanted to see three cities that day. The last one was 200 km away from my house. The first stop was the famous Aix Saint Provence.
Aix-en-Provence: city of fountains, art and student life.
Aix-en-Provence, often simply called Aix, is a charming city located in the heart of Provence. It is famous for its rich history, beautiful architecture, vibrant student environment and, of course, Paul Cézanne, who was born and worked here.
My highlight of the day was the town of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie.
I read a lot about this place. It actually turned out to be a number on in Provence. Wedged between a steep rock and a gorge carved by the river, the town delights with its Provençal character. Cascades and waterfalls add to its charm. You will also find plenty of faience shops here – pottery has been produced here since the 17th century.
At the very end I went to the town of Sisteron, called the gate of Provence.
The city itself did not captivate me like the previous one. If you don’t have much time, just go to the viewpoint from which you can see how the city is interestingly located between two rocks.
The last seventh day – dialysis and saying goodbye to the wonderful city of Arles
Unfortunately, my trip is slowly coming to an end. I decided to spend the last day saying goodbye to the beautiful city of Arles. Therefore, immediately after dialysis, I went to the center of Arles. On that day, the so-called festival took place in Arles – feria de paques. All the bars and restaurants were full of celebrating people. Place de Forum in particular resembled a disco in broad daylight.
As you can see, visiting France while on dialysis is possible. Provence offers many dialysis clinics, the service is professional.