Contributor blog post by Jemma: Let summer begin! It’s not just that the calendar has sailed past June 21, varyingly known as the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, and France’s Fête de la Musique, when entire cities put on their dancing shoes. Non, another sign of summer – at …

Provencal Coastline Images Even a photographer born in Provence, Camille Moirenc, a South of France native who has spent 30 years photographing the region and has published the same number of books, was surprised at the math. His most ambitious project to date might be “Exposition 438, Notre Littoral” a …

Angel Food Cake is not a French creation. Although French chefs cannot claim the invention of this white sponge cake, they have always worked with the essential ingredients: stiff egg whites, cream of tartar, cake flour, and sugar. Stiffly, beaten egg whites are the key to the delicate light texture of souffles

This chicken recipe combines the flavours of southern of the Mediterranean – basil, tomatoes, olive oil and pine nuts into a versatile main dish. You can serve Poulet Basilic aux Tomates Confites (chicken with caramelized tomatoes) hot or at room temperature. This recipe is simple to prepare, uses fresh ingredients and it is great for a picnic – a perfect summer dish.

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: Ai Weiwei and Marseille This is a highly political show – highly personal too. Much is about the artist’s relationship with his father (Ai Qing) whose ship from Shanghai back in 1929 docked right next to where MuCEM is today. Indeed it was France that inspired …

Here’s a suggestion for an interesting art lover’s outing, about an hour’s drive from Aix-en-Provence.  La Commanderie de Peyrassol is not only a successful Var vineyard producing 500,000 bottles of wine a year but is a fast-growing contemporary sculpture park. Continue reading here for details from Lynne’s visit to this vineyard’s modern …

Now the summer has arrived, it’s the perfect time for a trip down to one of Marseille’s southerly beaches, Pointe Rouge. It’s sandy and sheltered, and the lifeguards are already in place. It was developed in the 60s, and the marina now hosts 1,800 boats. Continue reading here for details …

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 …

a new drink this summer – Lavender Mint Meyer Lemonade. It’s been unbelievably hot and sunny in Provence, pretty much non-stop. So this weather is a perfect time to sip while sitting in the shade, listening to cicadas while enjoying a gentle breeze. This lemonade is very refreshing and I am sure it has healing properties

Saint-Raphaël is a beautiful coastal town that lies between Cannes and Saint-Tropez. You can walk along the seashore, but you can also visit the old town, the archaeological museum and its tower with a view over the city. On the streets of the old town, you will find a covered …