I’m often asked why I called my blog ‘Shutters and Sunflowers.’ To me, they are both so defining of Provence and indeed much of France. Throughout this beautiful country, many of the buildings, whether historic or recently built, are adorned with shutters. And in the summertime, everywhere but especially in …

It was 2015 when an opportunity dangled in front of Jill Douglas’s painting easel in Los Angeles. Could she help out for a few months at Atelier Fourwinds, an artist’s retreat, in the Alpilles village of Aureille? Born in England, life took Jill to France and then to Southern California …

Relax at Home Flairesse is the name of Claire McAlpine’s company. She offers massage and aromatherapy treatments in the comfort of your home in Provence. How did you land on this name? “Flair was a nickname my friends called me at university, and ‘esse’ from Latin means existence, the essence …

Guest Post by Aimee Laurence: French is a difficult language to learn and it’s normal to make mistakes. English speakers especially struggle with certain parts of the French language when it comes down to speech patterns. By knowing what some common French mistakes are, you can save time and confusion …

By Access Riviera French Riviera for Christmas With the start of Christmas school holidays, we’re counting down to Christmas with a whole range of family-friendly activities or places to visit during school holidays. If you’re thinking two weeks is a looooong time to keep your kids entertained, then take a …

Accomplished Author In 2011, Susan Kiernan-Lewis published a book entitled “How to Succeed as an Indie Author,” which, for some reason, is no longer available on the market. She then followed her advice and today has become one of the most prolific Indie authors in the US. The numbers speak …

Winter Festivals and Events in Provence What is winter like in Provence? It’s a good question. So, many images of the South of France are summer scenes; ribbons of blooming lavender fields, glasses of rosé with beads of condensation and beautiful people in enjoying their holidays. Perhaps wintertime in Provence garners less …

After all the December festivities, the holidays are a great time to disconnect from your e-devices and read. Whether you are searching for a gift or looking for a good book for yourself, these are some of our picks Holiday Reading List from Provence. Holidays Reads from Provence Discover the …

A House with Personality The Riviera Set: Glitz, Glamour, and the Hidden World of High Society is the latest book by author Mary S. Lovell, a biography about the rich, or famous, who spent time on the French Riviera from the 1920s to 1960. Many of these people gathered at …

By Jemma I recently ordered a music stand from Amazon for delivery in Antibes. Perhaps it was the shape of the box, but dispatch to the usual Amazon Locker being impossible, I scanned the available pick-up options. Geoffreys British Supermarket Geoffreys of London. My heart did an elaborate flip. What …