Dine Francis Mallmann's Restaurant
Our House in ProvenceRestaurant RecommendationsTaste

Wine and Dine Francis Mallmann’s Restaurant at Chateau La Coste

Previously, I shared our visit to Chateau La Coste in Le Puy-Sainte-Reparade to see the unusual art installed around this 600-acre organic winery and art center includes a luxury hotel and four (4) restaurants. The vineyard is owned by Patrick McKillen, an Irish art collector who has created a center …

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LUMA Arles Art Centre
Carolyne Kauser-AbbottExploreVillages Towns and Cities

Why Visit LUMA Arles Contemporary Art Centre and Urban Garden

The city of Arles is considered the gateway to the Camargue wetlands and Rhône River delta. It is the last major urban centre before leaving Provence’s southwestern boundary. In June 2021, LUMA Arles – an interdisciplinary creative campus – officially opened to the public in the former Parc des Ateliers. …

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Unite-d-Habitation-by-Le-Corbusier_Foundation-Le-Corbusier_dezeen_468_4
Learning FrenchVirginie Van Der Wees

Le Corbusier’s La Cité Radieuse Marseille’s Amazing Architecture

Hello, My name is Angela. I want to tell you about my excursion with Virginie during my immersion in Provence. I wanted to return to Marseille during my second one-month immersion with Virginie. We started the day with a city tour. Then we visited the Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde. Finally, we …

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Marseille MuCEM View
French Decor & GardensGuest PostInspire

Contemporary Architecture in the South of France

Provence is rich in history. Visitors to the region are often interested in seeing ancient Roman ruins like those in St-Remy-de-Provence. But there are many places where you can find contemporary architecture in the south of France. Read below as we highlight some locations where you can find the works …

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Chateau La Coste Wine
Our House in ProvenceTasteWines and Spirits of Provence

Head to Chateau La Coste for Wine, Art and Architecture

Every time we come to Provence, we schedule a day for fun with cousin Annick who lives in Rognes, about an hour south of Sablet. She always comes up with new places or activities for us to experience, such as walking around Lacoste, climbing Mont Saint Victoire, and visiting the …

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Villa E-1027 Cap Moderne
Carolyne Kauser-AbbottFrench Decor & GardensInspire

Modern Architecture Meets Mediterranean at Cap Moderne

Bordered by Monaco and Menton, the communities of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin occupy an enviable spot on the French Riviera. Wedged between the sparkling Mediterranean and the Alpes-Maritimes, there is no doubt why crowds flock to the Côte d’Azur for their holidays. Although not undiscovered in the late 1920s, the area was the …

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Villa Benkemoun Architecture Arles © Serge Benkemoun
French Decor & GardensInspireKeith Van Sickle

Villa Benkemoun Swirling 70s Architecture in Arles

Just four kilometres from the center of Arles sits the Villa Benkemoun, a magnificent estate designed by a disciple of the famous Swiss architect Le Corbusier. Visiting it is like stepping back in time. The villa was the brainchild of Simone and Pierre Benkemoun, a couple that moved from Algeria …

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©Yves Gellie for the Maison Bernard Endowment Fund
Carolyne Kauser-AbbottFrench Decor & GardensInspire

Creative Architecture 10 Must-See Buildings on the Côte d’Azur

Since 1860, Côte d’Azur is the coastline running from Cassis (although some suggest Toulon) to the Italian border. This famous coast passes through famous cities such as Saint Tropez, Cannes, Nice, Monaco and finally Menton. The Côte d’Azur has long held the imagination of travellers wishing to escape the cold …

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Ashley TinkerStay: Accommodation & Rentals in Provence

Bells, Shutters and Stone Traditional Architecture in Provence

Church Bells of Bonnieux Recently, we stayed in the hilltop village of Bonnieux in Provence’s Luberon where we were treated to a singular sensory experience. We reached out to Vincent Gils, the only carillonneur (bell-ringer) left in the Vaucluse area and one of few left in France. Vincent’s father, Bernard, …

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Provencal Architecture Shutters Provence
Caroline LongstaffeInspire

Provencal Architecture and the Shutters of Provence

I’m often asked why I called my blog ‘Shutters and Sunflowers.’ To me, they are both so defining of Provence and indeed much of France. Throughout this beautiful country, many of the buildings, whether historic or recently built, are adorned with shutters. And in the summertime, everywhere but especially in …

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