After living in Provence for a few years and running holiday rental apartments in the heart of Apt, Jen and Chris Mallon continue their exploration of the region. They are wonderful hosts and always happy to help guests with ideas for sightseeing, avoiding the crowds, and some of their favourite …

There are towns and villages we happily visit time and again because of their uniqueness, proximity to historical sites, outstanding markets, or cultural attractions. As Uzès has it all, a well-preserved chateau, cobblestone streets, two great weekly markets, close to the Pont du Gard, and a Duke, it was an …

There are many beautiful villages in the Luberon – Gordes, Ménerbes, Roussillon and Bonnieux to name but a few. I think Saignon is one to add to your list to visit. It’s just above the town of Apt so you could perhaps head to its wonderful market on a Saturday …

Les Baux de Provence is a picturesque village about 46 miles southwest of our house in Sablet in the Vaucluse. The town sits on an elevated site with ancient dwellings and ruins of a castle perched on top overlooking plains to the south. The village is classified as one of …

I have a confession to make. It’s been over 30 years since we first visited the area and over five (5) years since buying the house here, yet I hadn’t seen the incredible Mines de Bruoux, at nearby Gargas, until recently. Incredible Mines de Bruoux Typically when Ochres are mentioned, …

Mother Nature jumped the gun this year, often bringing brilliant azure skies and near-balmy weather well before spring officially arrived. The tantalizing temps make bundling up unnecessary when my husband and I head outside to elevate our heart rate with a nature walk. And with the expansive Parc Naturel Regional …

Discovering Bonnieux Our family first visited Bonnieux during a week in Provence in early June 2003. We stayed in a nearby village and spent a few hours in Bonnieux one afternoon. The Luberon truly captivated all three of us. The following year we returned for a longer stay—six-and-a-half months—renting a …

We arrived at our Sablet home last Tuesday after being away for five (5) months. Unfortunately, we arrived too late to shop at the weekly market in Vaison-la-Romaine, which, as faithful readers know, is our very favourite market in Provence. On Thursday morning, we headed to Nyons just 28 km …

It’s 8:30 am and I’m walking west on the Cours Mirabeau toward the Fontaine de la Rotonde. The Cours is temporarily lined with wooden stalls for vendors working the holiday market — santoniers with their clay nativity figures, clothiers, toymakers, specialty food vendors, artists. The stalls are beginning to open, …

Immortalized in Dante’s Inferno, Alyscamps, one of the most famous historical burial grounds outside of Rome, is a short walk from the centre of Arles in the southwestern corner of Provence. The day my tour group visited, there was no one else there except a few stray cats, and the …