How do you test a hotel’s 5-star rating? Forget about checking for dust on picture frames — deliver a thunderstorm in the middle of a meal service. L’Orangerie’s terrace was brimming with lunchtime customers enjoying their market-fresh plats du jour and local rosés when the typically far-reaching view of the Luberon vanished …

September is always a busy time in the wine world! It’s harvest time! To accompany the very important business of creating a new vintage, September traditionally sees various wonderful wine events and festivals to participate in. Here is a selection of my top Super September wine events on the French …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: Journées du Patrimoine, the weekend when local history and culture is celebrated across Europe, takes place on the 19th and 20th September. Here in Aix, the theme will be ‘Métamorphoses d’une ville’, celebrating the Peek behind the scenes at the Pavillon Noir and the Grand …

This event, being held this year on Saturday, 17th October, gets booked up early, so don’t delay! 2015 sees the 10th anniversary of the awarding of AOP to this attractive area which you will explore as you drive from cave to vineyard following clues – you do need a fluent …

The Modern Trobadors may travel through Provence with iDevices and digital cameras, but their goal is similar to their medieval brethren to share news about this diverse corner of France. Now, you can join them on a bespoke tour of Provence in 2016. Medieval troubadours were poets and musicians who …

Let’s just say it had been a few years since I had spent any time in Nice. My last visit was during an era when backpacks with external frames were acceptable, walkmans were hip, travel on $20 a day was possible and the Euro had not been invented. I was …

Contributor blog post by PestoPistou: Last summer on a wine-tasting visit to Bellet in the hills above Nice I tasted and bought some of Domaine de la Source’s delicious pâte d’olives made with the local cailletier black olives. The French term for this little treat in a jar translates into …

Contributor blog post by Jemma: As the Côte d’Azur rounds out the highest part of its summer season, French Lessons escapes the urban madness and sticky beaches for the high seas. A few weeks ago we cruised together from Antibes to Monaco, and I’m happily reminded by several readers that …

Sparkling azure waters, chilled pink wine, cicada-led symphonies and the market aromas of rotisserie chickens it is easy to see how one might get drunk on the sensory indulgence of Provence. Intoxicating PJ Adams grew up in California where she studied, before heading to the London School of Economics. Her …

Since 1969, Arles has established itself as a European focus for the art of photography. The vast Recontres d’Arles festival sprawls across town with 60 different exhibitions in museums, chapels, halls, showing the work of masters of the art – and new practitioners. It’s very inspiring – but Continue reading …