France got in the way of Spain. That might be the way Paul Shawcross would describe his first taste of France in 1979. His plan was to drive through France en-route to discovering Spain. He stopped at a campground in Millau, part of the amazing Tarn River Gorge. It was …

The olive harvest in Provence is almost finished, and the extra virgin nectar rests briefly before serving. This easy recipe can be served any time of year.  Gilles at Provence Gourmet shared this recipe with Perfectly Provence readers to celebrate this year’s harvest. This is an easy salad to celebrate …

The startling colour of red-fleshed pears makes this easy, elegant dessert a crowd-pleaser. It is a perfect fall dessert, combining late-season fruit with red wine. The pears can be served on their own or with a scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream. This recipe was provided to Perfectly Provence …

It took seven years, 50-million Euros and loads of patience before Domaine de Manville could achieve its 5-star rating. Edith and Patrick Saut are the visionary owners behind this new luxury “Palace Rural” situated in the heart of the Parc Naturel Regional des Alpilles.

Gilles Conchy says it was Provencal food and family ties that tugged him back to Provence after four years in California. Although, he admits that he could still be a “California boy.” The sandy, windswept beaches and seemingly endless sunny days of the southwest U.S. fit like a second skin …

My mother might not approve as some of my relationships these days start via social media – a tweet, a Facebook “like.” That is exactly how we ended up on a rocky trail bordered by the Durance River and cherry orchards with our new friend Charmaine. We spent a Tuesday …

Camargue the Bouches du Rhône The Camargue is the end of the watery road for the Rhone River. The Rhone finally dips its tentacles in the Mediterranean some 813 kilometres from its glacial source in Switzerland. From a frigid, violent start the water reaches the river delta and lazily unfolds, …

Maybe the panhandlers should have headed to Provence instead of California! Gold appears to be easy to come by under sunny Provencal skies, according to real estate agents who gush about the chic Cote d’Azur, the star-studded Var and Peter Mayle’s gold-dusted Luberon. The village of Eygalières has the geographic …

Chateau la Coste beckoned! It has been at least two years since my last visit to the vineyard owned by Paddy McKillen, an Irishman with a love for Provence, wine and contemporary art and architecture. I made up for my lack of attendance with two lunchtime visits this summer.

Aix’s Hotel de Ville The Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall) and the busy square directly in front date from 1741 a time when Aix en Provence was the capital of Provence. The building was constructed for meetings between consuls and the Town Council. Today, the building remains the place where …