Provence is famous for its charming hilltop villages, brilliant sunflowers, and fragrant lavender. It is also where you can find some of the best Roman ruins in all of Europe. This is because Provence was once an important part of the Roman Empire. The Romans even gave it its name: “Provence” comes from the original […]
Wine, truffles and chocolate! And that’s just to start. Who doesn’t love Provence? You could spend a lifetime here and still not sample all of its rich produce. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try! Weird, wonderful and wickedly delicious Vaucluse If you’re going to try and eat and drink your way through an entire […]
Avignon is the capital of the Vaucluse department in Provence, southern France. It’s the world-famous seat of the 14th-century Popes. Their former palace is UNESCO World Heritage listed and the greatest Gothic palace in Europe. It’s also home to a famous bridge which inspired a song known around the world. If you’ve only got 48 […]
The Rhone Valley is the ultimate wine lovers destination. And there’s no better way to discover this beautiful area of Provence and its vineyards than with a three day tour with a local expert guide. This is a unique chance to experience the real Provence. You’ll meet local wine makers, visit the grand domaines and […]
Avignon is the beating heart of Provence. It’s the capital of the Vaucluse department and a small city with a big presence. Find out what to see and do, what not to miss, where to eat and drink and more in our Avignon city guide … Must-sees in Avignon With its UNESCO listed architecture, and […]
Day trips from Avignon to see the best of Provence are easy, but you will need wheels to see some of those off the beaten track beauties. If you don’t want to hire a car and drive, meet Emily Durand of Your Private Chauffeur Provence. She has lived in the area for many years. She’s […]
Enjoy Provence in the spring, before the summer crowds arrive. Quiet hilltop villages, small city charm and the dazzling blue of the Mediterranean Sea and warm days await you… The best places to visit in Provence in Spring Aix-en-Provence Temperatures in spring in Provence are warm and pleasant. Blue skies and warm days with cooler […]
Check out these top tips for Provence visits. The prettiest towns, the best shops and antique hunting, amazing attractions and more… The heart of Provence is found in the countryside and it’s hilltop villages. Beyond the big famous cities like Aix or Avignon (both of which are certainly stupendous) a village stay or a farmhouse […]
On a warm June morning, Elsa surveys the lavender patch in front of her childhood home. In a few weeks, when the iconic purple flowers are in full bloom, Elsa will create her fuseaux de lavande, rekindling the art of making lavender wands in Provence. A long lost craft brought back to life Inspired by […]
Situated on the south east coast of the French Riviera, Nice is one of the most beautiful and sophisticated regions in the world. It’s the second-largest city in the Provence-Alpes Cote d’Azur after Marseille. And it’s often referred to as the Queen of the French Riviera. Art and culture in Nice Artistic treasures are plentiful […]
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Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in Provence, in the south of France, is famous for its wines. The town’s name means “the pope’s new château” because many centuries ago a summer papal palace was built here. The main Palace of the Popes was in nearby Avignon. Popes need good wine to drink, so vines were planted, barrels were crafted, […]
La Meuse is a winding river which meanders its way through the French Ardennes and on into Belgium. It’s a haven for cyclists, especially if you enjoy cycling on the flat. A cycle path follows the Meuse for over 50 kms with incredibly scenic views on either side of the river where hills descend sometimes […]
On summer evenings, the swallows dip and swoop in nervous arcs as if anxious to protect, or preserve, the close of day in its melancholy stillness. A light hovers over Collioure, on the Vemillion Coast in the Pyrenees-Orientales. Caught in a pale brushstroke of watercolor blue, a wash which holds the houses together as they […]
Paris is an ancient, time-shifting, secret society. I made it to the ripe old age of 61 by creating plans and organizing my life around them. This should come as no surprise. The clearest memory I have of my father is him sitting at the breakfast table looking from my sister to my brother then […]
In the centre of Paris you can visit a café that’s also a cosy refuge for abandoned cats. Highly recommended for cat and coffee lovers! Margaux Grandelon opened her first Cat Café in 2013 in the Marais district. I visited her second little establishment close to the Bastille monument at 9, Rue Sedaine and enjoyed […]
In August 2014, I gave up my job teaching English in Lyon to house-sit a farm in Vienne and write a novel. I wasn’t particularly looking for the literary good life. I just wanted a break from the city. Six months later I finished it. But the elation was short-lived. I didn’t like it at […]
We chat to Rosy Rabson, a British expat who retired to Burgundy and run a gite from which all proceeds go to charity. Based in the Morvan area, with its regional natural park, a land of ancient castles, picturesque villages, forests and lakes, it is a largely undiscovered by tourists part of France – and […]
Katharine Tasker from London upped sticks in the city and moved to the sticks in rural northern France. With her she brought a sprinkling of urban style to her new build home and thriving new business, a café and shop… Pas de Calais is a region of meadows and forests, the countryside is criss crossed […]