Provence Home Renovation
Expat Living and Real EstateJulie WhitmarshLiving in Provence

Living in Provence Let the Home Renovation Begin

Contributor blog post by Vaucluse Dreamer: It’s well over 2 years now since we finally picked up the keys and opened the door to our little house in Provence after so many years of dreaming about it. We couldn’t afford a perfect house with elegant gardens and a pretty pool and …

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Visit Sault Market Day
ExploreJulie WhitmarshVillages Towns and Cities

Plan Your Visit to Sault on Market Day

The pretty town of Sault sits on a rocky outcrop to the southeast of Mont Ventoux and is at the heart of local lavender production. It sits above the valley that takes its name, and the shaded Promenade opposite the Tourist Office on the road towards Aurel offers incredible views …

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Sault Lavender Festival August Fete de Lavande
ExploreJulie WhitmarshWhat's On Provence & Cote d'Azur

Spend A lovely day at the Sault Lavender Festival

I do enjoy a good festival – whether it’s a big County Show in England or a small local food event in France such as The Honey Fair at Goult this year. With that in mind, the signs for the Fete de la Lavande at Sault were too much to …

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Garden Abbaye de Valsaintes
French Decor & GardensInspireJulie Whitmarsh

The Remarkable Garden at Abbaye de Valsaintes is a Must Visit

I have always loved gardens, although I have to admit to not being a great gardener myself. A summer garden with deep herbaceous borders, filled with the scent and colour of roses is always a delight and we have some delightful ones around us in the UK, such as this …

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Lavender Fields Vaucluse
ExploreJulie Whitmarsh

Purple Turns Provence – Where to see Lavender Fields in the Vaucluse.

It’s this time of year that Provence turns purple when the Lavender fields start to explode with colour and the air fills with scent as the flowerheads gently brush against each other in the breeze. The air above them seems to shimmer with the colour and the constant buzz of bees …

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Judas Tree Blooms
ExploreJulie Whitmarsh

There’s a Sad Tale About the Judas Tree Blooms

Over the years we have visited Provence just about every month, but until we bought the house we hadn’t visited in April, which to be honest looking back on it now, was rather an oversight. In April, the countryside simply explodes with colour as the wildflowers start to bloom, bringing …

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Expat Living Provence
Expat Living and Real EstateJulie WhitmarshLiving in Provence

Expat Living: How Another Year in Provence Flies By

Contributor blog post by Vaucluse Dreamer: This time last year I was writing about our first year in Provence, borrowing the title from Peter Mayle, who so sadly died earlier this year, having fuelled the dreams of so many people over the years (ourselves included) with his wonderful stories of life …

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Provence Poppies Spring Landscapes
ExploreJulie Whitmarsh

Seeing Red in Provence Poppies and Cherries Signs of Spring

Having arrived back in Provence a few days ago I’ve been really surprised at how much things have changed in the last five (5) weeks. First, and probably the biggest surprise, is that everything is looking incredibly lush and green. This a such a stark contrast to the bleached colours …

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Provencal Markets Vaucluse Provence
Julie WhitmarshMarkets in Provence and Cote d'AzurTaste

Visit My 3 Top Picks for Small but Perfect Provencal Markets

There is something wonderful about a traditional French market and over the years we’ve spent a considerable amount of time ambling around them in different towns across the Country. The nice thing is that each area expresses its own identity through its markets – with the wonderful seafood stalls, full …

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Expat Living Pets Dogs Provence
Expat Living and Real EstateJulie WhitmarshLiving in Provence

Expat Living with Pets It’s a dog’s life in Provence

Contributor blog post by Vaucluse Dreamer: It’s now nearly 4 months since Millie, our Golden Retriever, arrived for her first visit to France and I think it’s fair to say she has settled in very quickly and already considers Provence as home. I admit that it didn’t start too well, …

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