On our last visit to Provence, we stayed at a little oasis of tranquillity tucked away just below the village of Bonnieux. Each day began with a short yet very steep five-minute walk up to the boulangerie for fresh croissants. Lazy afternoons were spent lounging by a pool gazing up …

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 …

A summertime escape to the Cote d’Azur from the French Alps. Heavenly! One might be tempted to describe the combination of a villa near Bandol, in Provence, and a home in the French mountain resort of Val d’Isère as the “the best of both worlds.” In 2010, Su Stephens and …

After spending four weeks in a tiny town in Provence near Aix, my husband, son, and I decided for a change of scenery. We packed up our many, many suitcases into a clown car-sized Peugeot, and drove two hours northeast to the picturesque mountain town of Saorge. I’m willing to …

Before my recent trip to Provence, I didn’t know much about the area other than it was known for its lavender and pastis. It’s only 3.5 hours from Marseille to Nice, so I figured it couldn’t be that hard to find a place to stay. Despite its relatively small size …

When we travel, we usually shun hotels. Sure, there’s a lot to be said about room service and having someone make your bed every day, but with the advent of Airbnb, HomeAway, and other vacation rental websites, we’ve opened our eyes to a new way to live like locals.  Why …

“Where I was born doesn’t help clarify anything, it just complicates things! Born in Paris but moved when two weeks old so not exactly a Parisienne! Pure coincidence that I’m now married to a Frenchman and living in France. I have two passports, British & Australian but feel international.” That …

Clos Saint Paul is located just outside the village of Mazan in Provence’s Vaucluse. The 260-year-old building previously operated as a chambre d’hôte (B&B) for visitors interested in exploring Mont Ventoux and the villages of the Dentelles. This private, six-bedroom house is now owned by a group of Canadians who …

Back in 2006, I got to know a family living on the outskirts of the village via my mum. The family were very kind to me during her short illness and made a special point of keeping in touch thereafter. In 2007, we received an invitation to a wedding in …

The owners of Mas de la Croix de Fer are celebrating their second season of running self-catering cottages in the Bouches-du-Rhône. The story of how they ended up in Mallemort is one of fate. Born in Zambia, Charmaine is a genuine South African – she speaks both English and Afrikaans. …