Cantilevered to a Luberon hillside are the striking remains of an ancient oppidum and its defensive dry-stone walls; Gordes can rightly boast about its ranking among les Plus Beaux Villages de France. However, at the height of Provence’s tourist season this town, with its single thoroughfare, becomes a ghastly traffic …

Have you ever thought about owning a B&B? I certainly have. For years I could see myself entertaining guests in an antebellum mansion. Or in a sprawling Victorian farmhouse. I’d serve a breakfast stacked high with crispy bacon and fluffy pancakes — “your choice of banana, berry, or chocolate chip …

Hidden high in the hills above the village of Rustrel lies a true Provençal oasis of tranquillity. Enveloped by woods, hills, and fields of lavender, le Clos de Rohan is the Provence you are looking for. From the moment you enter the grounds, this soothing retreat will delight the senses, whisk …

Contributor blog post by Access Riviera: I’m a non-smoker and always have been. I’ve lived with smokers, I have family members who smoke, I have friends who smoke. I don’t begrudge anyone’s choice to smoke cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars or pipes. What I DON’T like is when smokers think its their …

Contributor blog post by Jemma: If it’s not the WIFI, it’s la climatisation. This summer when we arrived at Bellevue, our home in Antibes, I clicked my heels when the little green checkmark appeared on my iPhone beside the name of our WIFI network. It worked! The WIFI actually worked …

We figure that our kitchen is so tiny that in order to make it look good, everything in it has to have character and charm (well, maybe not the damn washing machine). I’ve fallen in love with all the shabby chic/farmhouse French kitchens that I’ve seen on Pinterest.  …Continue reading …

Well, I did it again. I’ve made almost every blunder imaginable since moving to France. And I keep adding to it. First I was locked out of my apartment when returning from a visit to the States. I t wasn’t enough that I had endured a grueling 23-hour travel day. …

We’ve recently painted our upstairs with chaux/lime wash. We wanted to apply a wall covering that respected the age of the building. It’s important that old walls breathe in order to reduce trapped moisture. We quite liked the texture of the traditional lime wash (peinture à la chaux). We knew …

Nestled in the heart of Provence, you will find a true Hidden Gem – Château de Mazan. The former residence of the Marquis de Sade, an 18th Century French aristocrat, politician and writer who was infamous for his outrageous, libertine lifestyle, this stunning Château is an ideal destination for a relaxing …

In 1999, a decade after the publication of Peter Mayle’s “A Year in Provence”, Georgina Causton and her partner decided to take a sabbatical year. Smitten by the South of France, they never returned to live in London. Instead, they bought a house and three mortgages later ended up with …