Van Gogh St Remy Irises
Artists Inspired by ProvenceInspireKeith Van Sickle

Vincent Van Gogh in St-Rémy-de-Provence

St-Rémy’s most famous former resident is undoubtedly Vincent van Gogh, who spent a year there as a mental patient after cutting off his ear in Arles. While in St-Rémy, he painted several masterpieces, including Irises and The Starry Night. The place where Van Gogh was interned, Saint-Paul de Mausole, has …

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L'Oustaloun Maussane Hotel Restaurant
Keith Van SickleRestaurant RecommendationsTaste

Maussane-les-Alpilles: A Friendly Hotel-Restaurant with Excellent Food

“We love our clients and treat them like honoured guests.” These are the words of Marielle Fabregoul of l’Oustaloun, a charming hotel-restaurant in Maussane-les-Alpilles. She and her husband Thierry share a passion for customer service, which shows. A Local Institution L’Oustaloun has long been an institution in Maussane. It began …

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Provence Best Melon Cavaillon Melon
Keith Van SickleLocal Food ProducersProvencal RecipesTaste

Provence’s Tasty Cavaillon Melons Achieve IGP Protected Status

After a complicated process that took eight long years, on February 12, 2025, the European Commission granted the Melon de Cavaillon its coveted IGP designation. IGP laws (Indication Géographique Protégée) mean that only products from a certain geographic area, following strict rules, can carry the label. It guarantees quality and …

READ MORE  Provence’s Tasty Cavaillon Melons Achieve IGP Protected Status
Vincent Van Gogh Fashion St Remy de Provence
InspireKeith Van SickleProvencal History & Traditions

Exploring Van Gogh’s Era: The Sicard Sisters Photographers in Provence

What was Provence really like in the days of Vincent van Gogh? Vincent Van Gogh spent two years in Provence, first in Arles and then at a mental asylum called Saint-Paul le Mausole in St-Rémy-de-Provence. His time in Provence was remarkably productive, with an output of over 200 paintings, including …

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Les Baux De Provence View
ExploreKeith Van SickleLocals Travel Tips

My Favourite 6 Places for Beautiful Views in Provence

My wife and I live part of the year in St-Rémy-de-Provence, a charming town between Avignon and Marseille. We love to hike, bike, and go on picnics, and we especially love beautiful views in Provence—a place with so many! Here are a few of our favourite places for views, including …

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Sanary port Creative Commons binabik155
ExploreKeith Van SickleVillages Towns and Cities

Sanary-sur-Mer, A Gem on France’s Mediterranean Coast

It’s one of the prettiest towns on France’s Mediterranean coast and one of the country’s sunniest. But while international tourists flock to places like Nice, Antibes, and St-Tropez, lovely little Sanary-sur-Mer remains relatively undiscovered. Sanary, as the locals call it, was founded as a fishing village in the 16th century. …

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Rhone Valley Wine Notre Dame des Pallières
Keith Van SickleTasteWines and Spirits of Provence

Notre Dame des Pallières a Hidden Wine Gem in the Rhône Valley

Nestled among vineyards near the village of Gigondas sits Notre Dame des Pallières, a family-run winery specializing in the wines of the southern Rhône. It should be a stop for anyone who loves the robust, long-lived wines of this part of France. Gigondas is sometimes described as the little brother …

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WWII Liberation of Aix-en-Provence a Photo Exhibition
InspireKeith Van SickleProvencal History & TraditionsWhat's On Provence & Cote d'Azur

WWII Liberation of Aix-en-Provence a Photo Exhibition Until October

A unique photo exhibition will be shown in Aix-en-Provence to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the city’s liberation on August 21, 1944. Called Ombres et Lumières (Shadows and Light), it traces the history of Aix between 1930 and 1950, with particular emphasis on the war years. The show, organized by …

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Unforgettable Summer Concerts Provence at Glanum in St Remy
InspireKeith Van SickleWhat's On Provence & Cote d'Azur

Feel the Music: Unforgettable Summer Concerts in Provence by Candlelight

Imagine sitting in a comfortable seat in an ancient Roman city with a mountain rising behind it. As the sun sets, and you can see thousands of candles among the ruins, perched on stone walls, stairs, and fallen columns. As the sky darkens, the candles begin to glow. Then, a …

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Niolon Port on the Côte Bleue
Keith Van SickleRestaurant RecommendationsTaste

Enjoy a Seaside Lunch in Niolon on Provence’s Côte Bleue

My wife and I recently enjoyed lunch at La Pergola in Niolon, one of our favourite restaurants. And we found an easy way to get there: by train. Provence’s Côte Bleue Niolon is a lovely little seaside village five miles from L’Estaque, the westernmost neighbourhood of Marseille. And even though …

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