Millions of years of seismic activity, tectonic plate movement and freeze-thaw cycles created the diverse geology of present-day Provence. The region is also known as the Bouches de Rhône where the Mediterranean shoreline runs the gambit of beaches, brackish wetlands and vertigo-inducing cliffs. Other natural phenomena in the area include …

Contributor blog post by Jemma: Christelle backed her taxi into Bellevue’s courtyard the other morning and popped out with a bright smile and breezy bonjour. She is, quite blatantly, anything but the typical French taxi driver who lashed out across the international headlines last month. Equally striking is Christelle’s dress …

Contributor blog post by Access Riviera: I love a good concert – and even better when it’s free! Who could resist compiling a summary of some of the free concerts happening in the region during August? This isn’t an exhaustive list but I hope you find the time to attend …

“Someday you’ll be glad you’ve seen this,” was the theme of a recent tour of Nimes and Pont du Gard with my 10-year-old visitor, McKenna. As spectacular and amazing as seeing an ancient Roman aqueduct or coliseum might seem, most children would rather …Continue reading here

Contributor blog post by Vaucluse Dreamer I had to laugh this morning when my eldest asked what letter of the alphabet I’d reached in my A-Z – I replied M, he then started to ask what I was going to write about then checked himself by saying ‘Stupid Question….. It’s …

You can almost hear the clip-clop of the horses’ hooves maneuvering their master’s carriages on the cobblestones. Glance through the majestic iron gates into the cour d’honneur at l’Hôtel de Caumont and let the elegant limestone façade transport you to another era. The grand entrance was unique even in the …

Ginger and Nutmeg hosted a July 4th dinner party while in Provence in honour of their US friends. The menu included traditional and non-standard elements. Although the intent was to celebrate the US holiday, the menu might be considered a melange of Mexican, American, and French cuisine. The recipe below …

Before we moved to France I had read Peter Mayle’s account of his idyllic year in the Luberon region of Provence, and thoroughly enjoyed it. However, when planning our great escape from the grey-skied rat-race that is the City of London we never contemplated moving to the Luberon. Somehow it …

A week or so ago, the Barefoot Blogger could not resist going into one of my favorite shops in Uzes, L’atelier des Ours. Yes, summer bobo chic fashions are everywhere. Lightweight pantaloons and flouncy ruffled dresses, among other irresistible things. Who could pass it by? Certainly not …Continue reading here

Contributor blog post by Access Riviera: Say what you will about the French Riviera in the summer. Sure, there are traffic jams, crowded public transport, longer queues at attractions, sweatier tourists, and pricier airfares, but there’s also ice-cream on the seafront, dining al fresco in village squares, open-air concerts and …