By Michel As I told you in my last post, we went to Carpentras to visit the historical Jewish synagogue built in 1367. Since most shops and tourist sites close during lunch hour, we joined the locals and headed to our favourite restaurant. Our go-to restaurant in Carpentras is Chez Serge, …

By Michel: A Visit to Carpentras It is not unusual to find us headed to Carpentras on Friday morning’s for the weekly market or shopping for kid’s clothes. Carpentras is a short 25-minute ride down the D-7 from the village of Sablet. As we get near, we see Notre-Dame de …

Contributor blog post by Vaucluse Dreamer: If you’ve been following my blog for a while you’ll know that one of the things I love most about France is the chance to spend the weekends pottering round some of the fabulous local ‘brocante’ markets. In the Summer, the weekends pass by …

Contributor blog post by Michel: We always devote at least 1/2 day to shopping for kid’s clothes for our precious grandkids. Shirley’s favorite shops for kids are in the town of Carpentras, which is about 12 miles from Sablet. As we chatted one morning about going to Carpentras, it came out …

Contributor blog post by Ashley Tinker The photo is just an example of the great mix of treasures you’ll find at Carpentras. The Sunday antique market at Carpentras is my favourite weekly antique market. As you may already know, the town of Isle sur la Sorgue is the king of …

Spring Events in Provence Springtime in Provence is lovely. As is the case with most of the year, the sun shines brightly, but expect the odd rainstorm. Moisture in this period is critical for the grapes, olives, and almonds to start their growing cycles. Expect to see the apple, pear, …

If you have never tried a dish with fresh black truffles, it’s honestly hard to know what all the fuss is about. Once your tastebuds have made the connection between the earthy aroma and the intense flavour, you begin to comprehend why chefs refer to these fungi as “black diamonds,” …

Harvest or vendanges for wineries in the Ventoux usually takes place between the end of August and the last part of September. For those who don’t know this wine region, AOC Ventoux (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) is a vast area in the southern Rhône with over 150 wineries. And it’s a …

Winter Festivals and Events in Provence What is winter like in Provence? It’s a good question. So, many images of the South of France are summer scenes; ribbons of blooming lavender fields, glasses of rosé with beads of condensation and beautiful people in enjoying their holidays. Perhaps wintertime in Provence garners less …

Who doesn’t love a good family mystery? My father Daniel Augsburger was born in Switzerland. His mother was French and at a young age, the family moved to the South of France. He came to the United States in 1939, just prior to World War II for college and to …