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 …

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Art Marcel Kroënlein Arboretum
ExploreKeith Van SickleRoad Trips South of France

Art in the Trees at the Marcel Kroënlein Arboretum

Tucked into the mountains north of Nice, next to Roure’s charming village, sits an arboretum unique in the world. It mixes exotic trees, rare flowers, and “no-made” art in a mountain park overlooking the wild Tinel Valley—a perfect day trip for nature lovers and art enthusiasts alike. The Marcel Kroënlein …

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Olbia Lost Mediterranean City
InspireKeith Van SickleProvencal History & Traditions

Olbia a Lost Mediterranean City and its Mysterious Port

An Ancient Greek Colony Long before the Romans conquered Gaul (France), the Greeks established a series of colonies along its Mediterranean coast. Marseille, the oldest city in France, was once the Greek colony of Massilia. It, in turn, established smaller colonies in the area around it. One of these was …

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Socca Delicious Specialty Nice Movie
Keith Van SickleTaste

Discover Socca, the Delicious Specialty of Nice

“The culture of Nice is based on three things: the sea, soccer, and socca.” – Steeve Bernardo, owner of Chez Pipo, founded in 1923 In a city famous for dishes like pan bagnat and ratatouille, socca holds a special place in the hearts of the Niçois. A thin, deliciously crispy …

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Discover Underwater Museum Marseille nereides 2
Artists Inspired by ProvenceInspireKeith Van Sickle

Discover the Underwater Museum of Marseille

Statues have graced the world for thousands of years, in cathedrals, museums, and sculpture gardens. But now visitors to Marseille will be able to enjoy them in a new location—underwater. The Underwater Museum of Marseille (Musée Subaquatique de Marseille) recently opened its doors, so to speak, with ten newly-created sculptures …

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