
Summer in Provence is When to See Lavender Fields
Throughout the Luberon region, the landscape is peppered with fields of small, round-shaped lavender bushes, which for almost nine months of the year lie dormant like sleeping hedgehogs. In the spring, they begin to sprout, and from about the middle of June, their fragrant flowers bloom, fanning their purple fronds …
Throughout the Luberon region, the landscape is peppered with fields of small, round-shaped lavender bushes, which for almost nine months of the year lie dormant like sleeping hedgehogs. In the spring, they begin to sprout, and from about the middle of June, their fragrant flowers bloom, fanning their purple fronds …

Why I’m Dreaming of Christmas in Provence
We departed Lourmarin just as winter had arrived, with Christmas around the corner. The trees were almost bare, only a few remnants of their golden autumn gown still clinging to the branches. Temperatures had fallen, especially when the Mistral blew her cruel, icy breath down the Rhône Valley. There were …
We departed Lourmarin just as winter had arrived, with Christmas around the corner. The trees were almost bare, only a few remnants of their golden autumn gown still clinging to the branches. Temperatures had fallen, especially when the Mistral blew her cruel, icy breath down the Rhône Valley. There were …

Falling for Château Léoube Rosé from Provence
The first time that I tasted Château Léoube rosé was in California, not in Provence. It wasn’t that long ago that rosé wine was hard to find in the USA. Initially, it was often confused with white zinfandel, wine of a similar colour but not similar in any other way. …
The first time that I tasted Château Léoube rosé was in California, not in Provence. It wasn’t that long ago that rosé wine was hard to find in the USA. Initially, it was often confused with white zinfandel, wine of a similar colour but not similar in any other way. …

Christmas Shopping in Lourmarin
Lourmarin in December It’s December and people everywhere are getting ready for Christmas. After weeks of blue skies and gentle warm days, it’s raining where I live in California and temperatures have plummeted. The puddles are splattered with the last remnants of autumn and the mornings are frosty with low …
Lourmarin in December It’s December and people everywhere are getting ready for Christmas. After weeks of blue skies and gentle warm days, it’s raining where I live in California and temperatures have plummeted. The puddles are splattered with the last remnants of autumn and the mornings are frosty with low …

Find Luxury in the Luberon at Domaine de Fontenille
Imagine staying in a glorious 19th century Provencal country estate surrounded by mighty cedars, olive trees and resplendent vineyards framed by the rolling Luberon hills of the Durance Valley. Transformed in 2013 by architect Alexandre Lafourcade, Domaine de Fontenille is now a luxury spa hotel and exceptional wine domaine, with …
Imagine staying in a glorious 19th century Provencal country estate surrounded by mighty cedars, olive trees and resplendent vineyards framed by the rolling Luberon hills of the Durance Valley. Transformed in 2013 by architect Alexandre Lafourcade, Domaine de Fontenille is now a luxury spa hotel and exceptional wine domaine, with …

Sunflowers in Provence the Summer Flower
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 …
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 …

Provencal Architecture and the Shutters of Provence
I’m often asked why I called my blog ‘Shutters and Sunflowers.’ To me, they are both so defining of Provence and indeed much of France. Throughout this beautiful country, many of the buildings, whether historic or recently built, are adorned with shutters. And in the summertime, everywhere but especially in …
I’m often asked why I called my blog ‘Shutters and Sunflowers.’ To me, they are both so defining of Provence and indeed much of France. Throughout this beautiful country, many of the buildings, whether historic or recently built, are adorned with shutters. And in the summertime, everywhere but especially in …

Spend a Sunday Visiting Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Antiques
By Caroline Longstaffe Provencal Antiques Sunday morning is market day in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. Known throughout Europe for its astounding array of antique shops, alongside its’ conventional Provencal market, this charming town also hosts an incredible Sunday antique market. Just 39km from Lourmarin, the pretty drive through the Luberon Valley takes about …
By Caroline Longstaffe Provencal Antiques Sunday morning is market day in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. Known throughout Europe for its astounding array of antique shops, alongside its’ conventional Provencal market, this charming town also hosts an incredible Sunday antique market. Just 39km from Lourmarin, the pretty drive through the Luberon Valley takes about …

Sweet Treats the Candied Fruit Makers in Provence
What is Candied Fruit? Don’t ask your nutritionist’s permission when it comes to candied fruit. The answer is obviously yes. The process of converting fresh fruit to a crystallized version takes lots of time and even more sugar syrup. Sometimes referred to as fruit glacé in France. The Arabs brought …
What is Candied Fruit? Don’t ask your nutritionist’s permission when it comes to candied fruit. The answer is obviously yes. The process of converting fresh fruit to a crystallized version takes lots of time and even more sugar syrup. Sometimes referred to as fruit glacé in France. The Arabs brought …

Lourmarin Shopping at Rose de Bagatelle
By Caroline Longstaffe: Lourmarin Shopping It’s a small world’, maybe an overused cliché…… Yet things often happen to me, fine gossamer strands weaving connections to my life in California and very often Provence. These invisible threads do indeed shrink my world, just like this story about the charming owner of …
By Caroline Longstaffe: Lourmarin Shopping It’s a small world’, maybe an overused cliché…… Yet things often happen to me, fine gossamer strands weaving connections to my life in California and very often Provence. These invisible threads do indeed shrink my world, just like this story about the charming owner of …