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 …

When imagining Provence, perhaps you think of three-star Michelin restaurants serving snails with white truffles, paired with decades-old Bandol rosé. Sure thing, but regular French people also live in Provence and don’t have that much money to spare on a meal. Smart tourists will follow the local’s lead and can …

Holiday planning is not for the faint of heart. Spending your precious vacation time with family or friends is a bit like rolling the dice at a casino. Striking the delicate balance between activity, sightseeing, and relaxation to suit everyone’s taste is a juggling act. To control what you can, …

Popes and Red Wine Villages in Provence’s Rhone Valley In my view, there is no better place to begin this wine village itinerary than historic Avignon. The city was once the seat of the Catholic Church and home of several Popes during the Middle Ages. I have chosen seven of …

Spring Events in Provence Spring in Provence is absolutely 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. In March and April, expect …

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 …