Road Trip French Riviera
ExploreLearning FrenchRoad Trips South of FranceVirginie Van Der Wees

Learning French on a Two-Day Road Trip to the French Riviera

One of my French students, Mary Katherine, wanted to visit the French Riviera during her immersion homestay in Provence. It was January, a lovely month to see the Côte d’Azur. It is not beach weather, but it is generally sunny and, with the proper layers, comfortable for touring around. Plus, …

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Marseille Food Lovers Video
Fish & SeafoodMain CourseProvencal RecipesTasteVirginie Van Der Wees

The Story of Bouillabaisse: Marseille’s Seafood Delicacy and a Recipe

When French immersion students stay with us, they are always surprised that my children love garlic confit, olives, and fish soup. So, sometimes we eat bouillabaisse at home. My cousin lives in Marseille and has a delicious bouillabaisse recipe shared below in English and French. In this article, I will …

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Vendanges Grape Harvest Provence
TasteVirginie Van Der WeesWines and Spirits of Provence

Mont Sainte Victoire Côtes de Provence Vineyards Worth Visiting

We have lived in Rousset since 202o, a small Provençal village at the foot of the Mont Sainte-Victoire just 15 kilometres from Aix-en-Provence. Arriving at Rousset for a French immersion stay, you will notice that vineyards surround us. Mont Sainte Victoire Vineyards The four (4) vineyards listed below are at …

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Hiking Mont Sainte Victoire
ExploreLearning FrenchStay FitVirginie Van Der Wees

Mont Sainte Victoire Hiking My Recommendations for Great Walks

Students who join me in Provence for a French immersion experience want to improve their French and explore the region. Our home and Mas de Trois Pins studio are in Rousset, a village near Mont Sainte Victoire. This article highlights a few of the hiking trails on this mountain. It …

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Studio Maison sur Rousset Provence
ExploreLearning FrenchRoad Trips South of FranceVirginie Van Der Wees

Learning French on these Excursions from Aix-en-Provence

When students join me in Provence for a French immersion stay, I want to make sure that they improve their language skills and also get a chance to visit the region. Below are a few excursions from Aix-en-Provence that I have taken with students during their visits. Some of these …

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Patrouille de France #Patrouille
InspireProvencal History & TraditionsVirginie Van Der Wees

Discovering French Bastille Day Traditions in Provence

On July 14, 1789, an angry mob stormed the Bastille in Paris, which housed only seven inmates. To an enraged crowd, the medieval structure represented a landmark symbolizing their frustration with the reigning monarchy, a weak economic environment, high taxes and a lack of personal financial control. This milestone event …

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About the Tour de France
InspireLearning FrenchVirginie Van Der WeesWhat's On Provence & Cote d'Azur

Learn About the Tour de France Bilingual Text with Details

My husband is a sports fan… all sports! And bike racing is one of them. He, therefore, watches the Tour de France every year, especially the mountain stages. So he’s in a great position to give me all the information I need to write this article with details about the …

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Paul Cezanne Walking Trail Aix-en-Provence
Artists Inspired by ProvenceInspireVirginie Van Der Wees

Painter Paul Cézanne’s Atelier Visiting While in Aix-en-Provence

Join me in Provence for a French immersion stay and learn about French painter Paul Cézanne and his atelier (workshop) in Aix-en-Provence.  That’s why I always have a lot of fun receiving students in immersion courses and sharing my love for this city and its region with them. Cézanne Fan …

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Provence Poppies Spring Landscapes
InspireProvencal History & TraditionsVirginie Van Der Wees

The Month of May in Provence Springtime Highlights

May is one of my favourite months in Provence, with longer days and milder temperatures. Even though I often recommend discovering Provence during winter. May is a month when it is good to explore our region. It is also a month with several public holidays. The text below is in …

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Arles Must-See Provence
ExploreLearning FrenchVillages Towns and CitiesVirginie Van Der Wees

Visiting Arles for Art While Learning French in Provence

Jeannie and her daughter, Megan, joined Virginie for a wonderful French immersion week in Provence. They stayed in the studio Mas des Pins during their time in the region. Both mother and daughter are art lovers, so Virginie suggested visiting Arles. The text in English and French (written by Virginie’s …

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