Download Our Spring Menu Collection

This seasonal collection features 19 recipes, including starters, main courses, side dishes, and desserts. Featuring seasonal ingredients such as artichokes, asparagus, lamb, and strawberries. Download this PDF, which includes for recipes for entertaining at this time of the year.

 David Taylor

It took just one holiday in the Luberon in 2003 for David and Karen Taylor to fall in love with Provence. This lead to owning a village house in Saint Saturnin les Apt - a holiday home. However, after just a few visits they took the radical step of leaving home and work in Surrey, England.

The plan was to take a year off to explore Provence and learn French. However, after just a few months a challenge of a different sort presented itself - property. It was a piece of land in a wonderful authentic Provencal village in the Luberon and they set about planning and building two houses and gites over a two year period.

Today David and Karen have a three bedroom villa with private pool, two gites and a chambre d'hôte room with a shared pool. Now (2015) they are approaching their 7th season with 50% repeat guests, for a season that starts at Easter and runs to mid-October.

When not carrying out work duties the couple continues to explore the endless beautiful Provencal villages and towns. Recording their visits in photographs and sampling great food & scenery.

Their blog began in 2006 as a way for friends and family to follow our adventures it is now a great resource for anyone interested in Provence.

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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Explore · Villages Towns and Cities

The Reasons Why Visitors Choose Avignon, France, and Some Stay Longer

May 11, 2026
Maureen Steinberg grew up amid the sun-soaked energy of Southern California, spending years in the lively sprawl of Los Angeles. In 2020, she set out for something entirely new, trading LA’s endless buzz for Avignon’s gentle rhythms, a picturesque gem in France. That leap from the West Coast’s largest city to Avignon’s charm must have …
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Books on Provence · Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Inspire

Author Jérémy Lastavel Reveals How Photos are Powerful Historical Echos

May 8, 2026
When Jérémy Lastavel invited us to explore his latest coffee table book, L’Écho des Siècles St-Paul de Vence, we were curious, not knowing what wonders awaited within. The book surprised us with its vivid portrayal of Provencal history, woven together through bilingual storytelling and mesmerizing digital imagery. Each photograph transported us, page by page, as …
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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Hotels Provence & Cote d'Azur · Stay: Accommodation & Rentals in Provence

A New Chapter in Provence: The Reopening of Mas de Guilles in Lourmarin

May 4, 2026
Tucked into the rolling hills of the Luberon Valley, the newly restored Mas de Guilles invites discerning travellers to indulge in a luxurious retreat. Surrounded by the breathtaking Provençal countryside, this boutique hotel reopened its doors in Lourmarin this spring, unveiling a seamless blend of historic allure and contemporary four-star sophistication. “A hidden gem, where …
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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Explore · Guided Holiday Tours

What is the TripUSAFrance Tour Difference? Founder Julia Shares Her Story

May 1, 2026
Julia Girard-Gervois leads TripUSAFrance, a boutique travel agency she founded in 2015 alongside her parents in France. Their vision is simple: invite guests to discover southern France as locals do, with warmth and genuine connection. From April through September, they run tours in Normandy and Southern France. The TripUSAFrance tour group sizes are small to …
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Keith Van Sickle · Local Food Producers · Taste · Wines and Spirits of Provence

Distillery Tasting Room Enjoying the Flavours of Provence in the Alpilles

April 27, 2026
Last year, noted St-Rémy restaurateurs Julien and Émilie Martinat decided to embark on a new adventure. They sold their restaurant and started a distillery dedicated to the flavors of Provence. Their Distillerie des Alpilles (the Alpilles are a local mountain range) launched its first product in June, a thirst-quenching pastis with local flavours like thyme …
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