Inscribed in the stone and fixed to one side of the St. Pierre windmill is a quote by French writer Alphonse Daudet (1840-1897). Although, he was born in Nîmes and spent time in both Lyon and Paris, it was here in the Alpilles were he described his affection for the town of Fontvieille …

Writer Alphonse Daudet described his affection for the town of Fontvieille and its windmills as follows: “Ce coin de roche qui m’etait une patrie et dont on retrouve la trace – êtres ou endroits – dans presque tous mes livres” The translation: This corner of rock was a homeland to …

Christmas Market in Fontvieille The last Sunday in November there has been for the past 6 years the Foire Gourmand au Gras. This annual market is not for the faint of heart. It’s here that many locals stock up on Christmas seasonal treats from the South West of France. The …

The six of us were gathered around the island in Stephanie Villegas’ kitchen wearing olive green Laurel aprons. It was time for our group to stop the banter and pay attention to the chef; otherwise, we might not eat lunch. We were at Atelier Laurel for a hands-on cooking class …

We are thrilled to introduce our new and exciting service – Cooking and Conversation classes in my village of Fontvieille in the Alpilles. French Language Cooking Classes: In collaboration with Catherine, a certified French teacher with over 25 years of experience, our two-hour class provides a unique blend of culinary …

In Provence, a sure sign of the changing seasons is the new varieties of produce in the grocery store. While it is not a wholesale change from one week to the next, regionally grown tomatoes are no longer prominent. Instead, apples, pears, green beans, mushrooms, carrots and colourful squash take …

Established in 2007, the Parc Naturel Régional des Alpilles covers the mountain range and its flanks. As a protected natural area, there are restrictions on construction and park usage. However, the artifacts from human settlements discovered in these hills date back to the Neolithic era, and the range is the …

Welcome to our list of the Markets of Provence and the Côte d’Azur. This article is a reference directory by day of the week to better-known markets, producers’ markets and a few more. While it would be impossible to include every market in the region, we have tried to be …

Provence climate is Mediterranean with warm, dry summers, primarily mild winters, and well-suited soil for vineyards, olive groves and lavender. So it’s no wonder that the wine regions of Provence are well known for producing some of the best wines in France – and around the world. The following reference …

This is a reference guide, a list of the Markets of Provence and the Côte d’Azur, and additional travel tips. Below is a regional directory for daily markets by department (Alpes Maritimes, Bouches du Rhône, Luberon, Vaucluse, and Var) within Provence. We will add details for Alpes de Haute Provence …