When you leave a place for several months, however much you love it, even somewhere as special as Lourmarin, you wonder. Wondering if it is as magical as the images you have so firmly imprinted in your mind. Wondering whether you’ll feel the same when you return. And then you do …

Contributor blog post by Ashley Tinker: Sure the markets in Provence are tempting, but… Are you curious about in the ins and outs of working in a market in Provence? Do you want to taste the best Provencal ingredients and find out how they’re made? Would you like to eat breakfast at …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: The Office du Tourisme at Gardanne is offering a day-trip to Monaco on Saturday 19th May.  It’s an early start, 7:15, but then it’s quite a drive.  Once there, there’s an organised trip round the Musée Océanographique and also the Palais Princier, followed by free time. 86 …

By Jane Dunning for Curious Provence: Visiting the Côte d’Azur I’ve stayed in over twenty places in Provence, from Menton in the east to Cassis in the west and Orange in the north and, I confess, it’s my favourite region in the whole of France. It’s also the setting for …

Contributor blog post by Ashley Tinker: May I brag for a moment? Just look at how beautiful these landscapes are, even at this time of year. Most of these pictures were taken with my phone, as many were impromptu pit spots on the side of the road. I’ve noticed a sudden …

Visitors to Marseille will soon be able to whisk from the Vieux Port up to Notre Dame de la Garde by cable car in just six minutes. The contract has been won by Systra, part of SNCF, who will start work in October. It’s expected that 2 million people a …

If you’re around in summer, enjoy this top travel tip that has something for everyone – from paddling about in Europe’s deepest canyon to enjoying a picturesque lunch and then finishing off in the fields of lavender. We recommend an early departure for the beaches near Aiguine, take the D957 …

Having just returned to Aix after some weeks away, my second shock (after seeing the excavations in front of the Palais de Justice being filled in – inevitable I know) was to see the gaps in the Cours Mirabeau where plane trees had been. I had read about the ‘chancre …

In February, there is an explosion of colour along the Cote D’Azur when the hillsides are fringed with yellow from the bright flowers of the Mimosa trees and the citrus fruits glow orange and yellow against the dark green leaves– it’s as if the plants are reminding us of the …

Flamingos in Provence Did you know that we have a lot of pink flamingos in Provence? It’s not something that one would associate with the place of hilltop towns, olives, almonds, sunflowers, and lavender but that is my favourite thing about this region- it’s diversity. From our location in Provence, close to St …