Here is another good reason to visit Toulon! A reconstruction of the L’Hermione, the historic ship in which the Marquis de la Lafayette crossed the Atlantic to support Americans fighting for independence, will be in the port of Toulon from 5-8th April. I understand that tickets to go aboard have …

It was a surprise when ‘Happy Days’, the café in the corner of Place Richelme was demolished before Christmas; it always seemed busy. But now Le Petit Bistrot is in its place and it is a delightful place to have a petit dej’, coffee or hot chocolate.Wide choice of wines, …

Two exhibitions, both dedicated to Picasso, are now open in Marseille as part of the ‘Picasso-Méditerranée 2017-2019′ cultural programme. (These join the other Picasso-orientated shows, which I list further down this post.) ‘Picasso et Les Ballets Russes, entre Italie et Espagne’ focuses on four productions by Serge Diaghilev for which …

Just opened, and with perfect timing to catch the wave of ‘Quel Amour’, the new exhibition at Marseille’s Musée Regards de Provence illustrates the relationship between the artist and his or her muse. “The modern muse has this irresistible faculty to appeal to the artist and often to his heart, …

What a mess the town centre is with the travaux for the new bus route and the simultaneous archaeological dig and renovations at the Place des Precheurs. But then no pain no gain…no omelettes without breaking eggs, and all that good stuff. The bus drivers seem to be bearing the …

The new ‘Quel Amour’ programme launched on February 14 and runs until September 1, 2018. This is the 7-month cultural extravaganza planned by the MP2018 committee who were inspired by the European Year of Culture back in 2013 which did so much to galvanise the arts scene in Marseille-Provence. Continue …

Provence. Its powerful image enchants people worldwide, and many, inspired by the wonderful Peter Mayle, actually come to live here; and, inspired by A Year in Provence, decide that they have a story to tell. Most are remarkably different. Some arrive to transform crumbling chateaux with either lot of money …

It looks like the 3-year renovation at Piscine Yves Blanc is going well, and the pool will reopen in September 2018 (yay!). The main work of enlarging the pools and developing changing rooms and offices is done; now it’s over to the plumbers, electricians, and tilers. One new offer will …

Peter Mayle once wrote that Chez Etienne was his favourite Marseille restaurant for lunch and it seems he is not alone. As the locals say, ‘Il faut absolument passer, un fois, dans sa vie, chez Etienne’. Even Gault & Millau call it a ‘veritable institution’. Mayle was charmed by the …

The former convent and college des Precheurs in Aix Centre Ville has been sold for 11.5 million euros to house an extensive collection of Picasso’s works—2,000 in all—including paintings, ceramics, and sculptures. The Musée Jacqueline et Pablo Picasso will be the third museum in France to be in France to be …