Last July, we went to Provence for the first time in a while. Although I wrote about our favourite things in Provence shortly before our trip, seasonal “floral” attractions such as red poppies, lavender, and sunflowers are high on our list. Since July is sunflower season, we set off one …

As soon as we finished our drive around the lavender fields we started hunting for sunflowers, called tournesol in French. You may not be aware that despite the fact that you find postcards, photos and paintings of sunflowers all over Provence, they are actually native to the Americas. Sunflower seeds …

What’s in a Name? Sunflowers are synonymous with Provence, their bright smiling faces adorning paintings and postcards throughout the region. With brilliant yellow petals, sometimes known as rays, their resemblance to the summer sun is unmistakable. Stunningly beautiful these dazzling flowers conjure up the very essence of summer, especially summer …

Provençal postcards, Pinterest boards and Instagram are filled with photos of sunny sunflowers. Long before the Internet these beautiful flowers inspired Vincent Van Gogh to paint a still life series called Tournesols (Sunflowers). He painted the first of the group in 1887, in Paris, and then later (1888-89) in Arles. …

Admittedly, it would be a tough choice for anyone to pick between, between the lush gardens of the UK, the sunny skies of California and postcard perfect Provence. Caroline Longstaffe’s solution was to start writing a blog Shutters and Sunflowers her artistic outlet for west coast beauty, British heritage and …

We invited some friends to visit us in early September in Provence. When they agreed, we jumped into planning mode and created an itinerary that would interest first-timers and those who had previously visited. It’s challenging to plan a holiday agenda that balances the needs of an active group who …

Anyone who appreciates nature’s splendour, embraces cultural traditions, and relishes culinary brilliance needs to travel to Provence. Since your visit to Provence needs a perfect starting point, join Abi Treanor and Pierre Giammalva on an idreamprovence exclusive tour. Choose from their meticulously designed day tours, such as a city walk, …

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 …

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is a picturesque village in the département Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, within the breathtaking Parc Naturel Régional du Verdon, whose headquarters are in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. It was our final stop on our exploration of Les Gorges du Verdon. Like Tourtour, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is one of  Les Plus Beaux Villages de France  ~ the ‘Most …

Cucuron is a delightful southern Luberon village just a ten-minute drive from Lourmarin. Surrounded by rolling vineyards and olive groves, beloved for its charm and central ‘bassin, ‘Cucuron has become a favourite of movie makers. Several well-presented information boards share old photos and some of the local history throughout the …