Customs and terminology can be confusing in a foreign country, and France is no exception. North Americans and other international travellers might not understand (or search for) terms like gîte, mazet, chambres d’hôtes, or hôtel de charme. What is a Gîte? A gîte is a terrific option for holiday rentals …

From humble beginnings as a fishing village on the French Riviera, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat has a reputation as a playground for the rich and famous. Billed as one of the most expensive places on the Côte d’Azur and is reinforced by grand villas, magnificent gardens, and luxury hotels. These are only a …

Provence’s Roseraie de Gérenton has 300 Rose Varieties! Cultivating any garden takes time, patience, and lots of challenging work. In early 2015, Sylvie and John Brun bought a property near Bédoin in the Vaucluse. Although the property was previously an agricultural plot about 50 years ago, the old grapevines and …

Provence is a buffet for food lovers. There are markets every day of the week. Chefs find inspiration in seasonal fruit and vegetables, Mediterranean seafood, and free-range lamb. A suitable climate and good soil mean an array of locally produced almonds, cheese, wine, olives and olive oil. In the spring …

The Luberon region in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region of southern France is known for its picturesque villages and stunning natural beauty. These nine (9) villages are considered must-sees in the Luberon Valley. Book a Luberon Village Tour Ansouis You’ll find the village of Ansouis tucked inside the Parc naturel regional …

Panisse, like polenta, is easy to make. The difference is chickpea flour instead of cornmeal. However, the culinary debate about whether panisse is a culinary creation of Marseille or Nice continues without resolution. Is the authentic version of panisse found at a snack bar on the beach in l’Estaque, where …

Dishes such as ratatouille, pan bagnat, panisse, soup au pistou, and salade Niçoise appear on menus throughout the South of France. Many cooks have time-tested variations on these recipes, which may be delicious, but don’t quite follow the Cuisine Nissarde traditions. Although ratatouille is known around the globe, the authentic …

The relief palatable, the calm almost surreal, something is missing – the wind has stopped! Mistral Wind In France, the mistral is a strong wind that typically blows from the north or northwest. Mistral, the name for this wind, means “masterly,” and it certainly lives up to that reputation. The …

Among Nice’s many attractions are its Mediterranean location and the fresh seafood. Octopus (la pouple) is one ingredient that often features in Niçoise dishes. La pouple à la Niçoise was a favourite of the local fisherman mentioned by Tobias Smollett in 1762. However, the recipe has likely evolved since that …

Parisians are particular about baked goods – baguettes, tarts, cakes and all viennoiseries, including croissants and pains au chocolat, must be perfect. Even when they are on holiday relaxing in Provence, there is often discussion about where to find the best example in each category. Frankly, it does come down …