Nimes arena Amphitheatre
ExploreKeith Van SickleVillages Towns and Cities

Arles or Nîmes Where Best to Visit Roman Provence?

Roman Provence Way back around 50 B.C., Julius Caesar conquered Gaul (now France), and the area remained part of the Roman Empire for centuries. As a result, Roman ruins are all over France, but the best ones are in and around Provence. In fact, ‘Provence’ comes from the Latin ‘Provincia …

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Joël Durand Chocolate Provence portrait
Keith Van SickleLocal Food ProducersTaste

Joël Durand The Best Chocolate Maker in Provence

A Precocious Talent “As a young boy in Brittany,” says Joël Durand, “I had three dreams—to be a chef, a pastry-maker, or a race car driver.” A smile crosses his face. “My parents made it clear that driving race cars was not in the cards, so I started cooking when …

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Biking Route Luberon Valley google map
ExploreKeith Van SickleStay Fit

An Easy Biking Route in the Luberon Valley to Try

One of my favourite biking routes is the Véloroute du Calavon, in the Luberon Valley. It’s a pretty ride and very easy. Biking on a Voie Verte This route is a voie verte (or “greenway”), a paved route for bikers, walkers and rollerbladers. There is a network of them in …

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Fun Things St Rémy de Provence
ExploreKeith Van SickleLocals Travel Tips

A Dozen Ideas for Your Stay in St-Rémy

St-Rémy-de-Provence is one of the most charming towns in Provence. It’s a great place to spend a few days nestled at the foot of the Alpilles Mountains and surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. Here are some fun things you can do while you’re there. Walk in the Footsteps of …

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Provence Best Melon Cavaillon Melon
Keith Van SickleLocal Food ProducersTaste

Provence has the Best Melon in the World

There are lots of different melons, from the ubiquitous cantaloupe to the fabulously expensive Yubari King. And the best of them all comes from a small town in Provence called Cavaillon. Melon de Cavaillon has a history that goes back to the days of the Avignon Papacy. The popes needed …

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Wine Mas de Sainte Berthe Alpilles
ExploreKeith Van SickleStay Fit

Top Biking Routes in the Alpilles

My wife and I live part of the year in St-Rémy-de-Provence, a charming town that sits at the foot of the Alpilles mountains. We love to bike in and around the Alpilles on routes that range from easy to moderately difficult. If you stay off the busy main roads, biking …

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Mas des Tourelles Roman Wines Bacchus public domain
Keith Van SickleTasteWines and Spirits of Provence

Mas des Tourelles Wines How to Drink Like a Roman

Near the town of Beaucaire is something unique in the world. Built on the site of a Roman villa, it is a faithful reconstruction of a Roman winery. Visitors learn how winemaking was done when Rome ruled the world. There is a chance to sample wines that have been made …

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Maussane-les-Alpilles
ExploreKeith Van SickleVillages Towns and Cities

When You Visit Maussane-les-Alpilles

My wife and I live part of the year in St-Rémy-de-Provence, and just south of us lies the charming village of Maussane-les-Alpilles. It sits at the foot of the Alpilles Mountains, near the famous château of Les Baux-de-Provence. The area is rich with olive groves and Maussane makes a nice …

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Gigondas Rhône Wine Village village creative commons attribution Jean-Marc Rosier from www.rosier.pro
Keith Van SickleTasteWines and Spirits of Provence

Gigondas a Rhône Wine Village with a View

Are you looking for a place with beautiful views, excellent food, and fabulous wines? Then consider Gigondas in the southern Rhône Valley. This region has been producing excellent wines for over 2,000 years, from when it was part of the Roman Empire. The Romans liked the wines from Gigondas so …

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Rhone glacier Switzerland
InspireKeith Van SicklePhotographers in Provence

Gorgeous Photos of the Rhône by Camille Moirenc

The mighty Rhône River —the “King of Rivers”—follows an unusual path. It begins high in the Swiss Alps, sourced by the Rhône Glacier, then gathers more water as it makes its way through Switzerland’s canton of Valais. Finally, it gushes into Lake Geneva. Most rivers would end there, but not …

READ MORE  Gorgeous Photos of the Rhône by Camille Moirenc