As you wind your way across the plains of the Vaucluse in Provence (all olive groves, lavender and vineyards), you see Oppède le Vieux hanging above you on the north face of the Petit Luberon. It looks haunting and beautiful… The rise… Oppède le Vieux dates back to at least the 12th century. At the […]
Fontvieille is a charming Provençal village in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in the far south of France, close to Arles and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. This quaint old town has a lovely old lavoir (wash house), a shady central square, and a bustling open-air market on Monday mornings. It is a delightful place to spend a few pleasant hours […]
What do the Romans, Nostradamus and Van Gogh have in common? Give up? For a time, they all bunked down in the enticing Provençal enclave that we know as Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. Here, the Romans built Glanum. The renowned seer entered the world. And the Dutch artist created his masterpiece, Starry Nights. Fast forward to the 21st […]
We asked Julia Girard-Gervois of TripUSAFrance who has run brilliant tours of the south of France for many years – when’s the best time to visit the south of France in the summer? “The last week of August is pretty good” she said, to our surprise. We asked her to tell us more… Why the […]
The town of Carpentras in the department of Vaucluse, Provence, is spectacular. At the foot of Mont Ventoux, it has a rather exotic feel, almost Roman with its terracotta roofs and fabulous fountains. The market in Carpentras is one of the best in Provence – no strike that. It’s one of the best in France. […]
If you love charming villages with oodles of historic monuments and art galleries, Saint-Paul-de-Vence is definitely somewhere you should put on your must-see list. Located in the Alpes-Maritime department on the French Riviera, this medieval village is one of the prettiest hilltop towns of Provence. Cobbled streets, centuries old buildings, small squares, vaulted passageways, arcades […]
St Tropez is possibly the world’s most famous summertime playground for the rich, celebrities, rockstars and the disgustingly rich. It’s said you can never be too rich or too gorgeous for St Tropez. But, what about the rest of us? What delights does St Tropez offer if you’re a mere mortal? It’s a fun place […]
On the French Riviera, between chic Cannes and elegant Nice, sophisticated Antibes sits on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea basking in the sun… The southern French seaside resort has oodles of charm and has long lured tourists to enjoy the old town, the arty vibe, the golden sandy beaches and memorable sunsets. Writer F. […]
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 […]
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As a chicken keeper, I’m always amazed by the antics of my birds. I keep ducks, chickens and geese – they’re pets, not for the pot despite the urging of my French neighbours. I love them all but it’s the chickens who for me are the most fascinating. Ducks fight it out to establish a […]
At No. 18, Rue de Paridis, close to the Gare de L’Est is a house of horrors that’s popular with Parisians and visitors alike. Le Manoir de Paris is a theatrical show that’s very unusual. If you want a very different sort of Paris experience from the classic Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre type […]
A couple of years ago now, we went through a torrid time in what is now called “The Year of 52 ducklings”. It was all my fault. As a city slicker, moving to the countryside of northern France has been a bit of a learning curve to put it mildly. And when it comes to […]
Tarn-et-Garonne in south west France is one of the smallest departments in France but that doesn’t mean there’s not plenty to fall in love with. Named for the two mighty rivers which flow through it – the Tarn and the Garonne, it’s an area of outstanding natural beauty, gorges and forests, fields and vineyards pepper […]
History is full of horrible monsters. The Cyclops terrified the ancient Greeks, the Abominable Snowman haunts the Himalayas, and Godzilla stomps on Tokyo from time to time. The French have their own terrible creature and—unlike the others—this one was real. The mysterious Beast of Gévaudan ravaged the French countryside in the 18th century, killing so many […]
One grey dismal day, I took a day trip to northern France to buy some cheap wine with my dad and my husband Mark. My mum had died two years before and my dad, broken-hearted and bereft, turned to whisky to drown his sorrows. I thought getting him to drink wine would be better for […]
The French Mediterranean village of Collioure is nothing short of enchanting. Travel guru Rick Steves refers to it as “paradise reclaimed” – it’s hard to disagree. These gorgeous photos of Collioure, basking in the sun, are sure to make you want to visit… Collioure is everything that describes an idyllic postcard-perfect retreat from modern stresses… […]
The day came recently when I realised that this year, the year of Coronavirus, I would have time to do the garden and it’s probably going to be a very good idea to make my vegetable bed as efficient as possible. But I am a chicken mum and some of my chickens are as much […]