Roman Barge Arles Museum Antiquity
InspireKeith Van SickleProvencal History & Traditions

Discovering the Roman Barge and Other Treasures of Arles

The Roman History of Arles What’s 2,000 years old, 100 feet long and used to float? If you guessed a Roman barge, you win! And you can see one now in the Arles Museum of Antiquity. Arles was once an important Roman town, a trading centre with a significant port. …

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St Remy Picnic Lac Peiroou Provence
ExploreKeith Van Sickle

Secrets of St Rémy: The Best Place for a Picnic

Just ten minutes from the centre of St.-Rémy is a shady picnic spot known only to the locals. It sits along the shores of a lake created thousands of years ago by the Romans. When hordes of tourists crowd into town, it’s nice to take a break in a quiet …

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St Remy Local Secrets Parking
ExploreKeith Van Sickle

St Remy Local Secrets Where to Find Parking

Contributor blog post by Keith Van Sickle: The Wednesday morning market in St.-Rémy is one of the best in Provence. And it is very popular, which makes parking a challenge. There are a few spots available in the pay lots and on the street, but they tend to fill up …

READ MORE  St Remy Local Secrets Where to Find Parking
Benvengudo Hotel Exterior Les Baux
Hotels Provence & Cote d'AzurKeith Van SickleStay: Accommodation & Rentals in Provence

Benvengudo means Welcome to our Hotel in Provencal

Just below the famous hilltop fortress of Les Baux sits the boutique luxury hotel Benvengudo.  The name means “welcome” in the local language and it couldn’t be more appropriate. Walking into the manicured grounds of Benvengudo is like stepping back in time, to a more simple and gracious era.  The …

READ MORE  Benvengudo means Welcome to our Hotel in Provencal
Jardin des Alpilles Secrets of St Remy
Keith Van SickleMarkets in Provence and Cote d'AzurTaste

Discover the Secrets of St-Remy: Best Fruits and Vegetables

Contributor blog post by Keith Van Sickle: One of the glories of Provence is the fresh produce. And in St.-Rémy, the best place to get it is at the Wednesday market. Every week, dozens of vendors set up shop throughout the charming town center, selling fruits, vegetables, olives, cheeses, lavender …

READ MORE  Discover the Secrets of St-Remy: Best Fruits and Vegetables
James Jaulin young princess
Artists Inspired by ProvenceInspireKeith Van Sickle

James Jaulin one of the Artists of Le Thor

Discover another Le Thor artist: James Jaulin spent decades as an antiquaire (a dealer in antiquities) traveling the world in search of rare and beautiful treasures.  He now travels the world as a photographer, capturing the beauty of life through his lens. So what does he consider himself to be …

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Biking Routes in ProvenceMaussane Alpilles Ride
ExploreKeith Van SickleStay Fit

Biking Routes in Provence: Riding from Maussane-les-Alpilles to Eygalières

Val and I are back in France for the spring, in St-Rémy-de-Provence. One of the things we enjoy most about this area is biking. St-Rémy is right next to the Alpilles, a low mountain range with rocky outcroppings. Well, to call the Alpilles “mountains” is a bit of a stretch, …

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l’Auberge la Fenière Restaurant Dessert
Keith Van SickleRestaurant RecommendationsTaste

At l’Auberge la Fenière Restaurant Gastronomy Meets Gluten-Free

When is the last time you said to yourself, “I could really go for a gluten-free meal”? That would probably be…never.  Who wants bread with the consistency of a hockey puck?  Or pasta that needs a mountain of sauce to make it edible?  And as for cakes and pies – …

READ MORE  At l’Auberge la Fenière Restaurant Gastronomy Meets Gluten-Free
Christian Detaux at work
Artists Inspired by ProvenceInspireKeith Van Sickle

Meeting the Artists of Le Thor Sculptor Christian Detaux

Christian Detaux always wanted to be an artist.  For as long as he can remember, he’s been drawing and painting and shaping forms. At the age of 16, Detaux applied to the prestigious “Ecole des Beaux Arts” in Paris, ready to embark on a career as an artist.  But then he …

READ MORE  Meeting the Artists of Le Thor Sculptor Christian Detaux
Provence Poppy Field View @keith_vansickle
ExploreKeith Van SickleLocals Travel Tips

Travel Tips for Provence a Starter Kit

Contributor blog post by Keith Sickle: Thinking of visiting Provence, the land of glorious lavender fields and charming hilltop villages?  Good for you! But planning a trip to a new destination can be challenging. Where do you begin? What you need is a Provence Starter Kit!  And here it is. …

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