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, …

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

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 …

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 antiques in the south of France. …

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

A Move to Provence? Why not? As you’ve heard, Americans are considering moving to France, and you, too, may be wondering, “Is this the time to make this dream a reality?” After all, Provence is the magical place where Marcel Pagnol (La Gloire de Mon Père, Le Château de Ma …

The drive to Le Prieuré La Madelène Bed and Breakfast passes through Southern Rhône wine country and its famous villages. A pastoral landscape still surrounds what was once a 12th-century Benedictine priory. Fully renovated, this B&B is a quiet place to set aside your busy schedule and enjoy a Provencal …

Winter Festivals and Events in Provence So many images of the Provence and the Côte d’Azur are summer scenes with ribbons of blooming lavender fields, glasses of rosé with beads of condensation, and beautiful people in straw hats enjoying their holidays. Perhaps wintertime in Provence garners less attention, but it’s …

Cavaillon is a good-sized city east of the Durance River in Provence with a deep history linked to local agriculture. Most visitors drive straight through Cavaillon on their way to the Luberon’s perched villages and Vaucluse towns, vineyards, and lavender fields without stopping, which is a shame. Cavaillon has lots …