Inspired by her expat experiences in the South of France, Caroline Longstaffe began writing her blog “Shutters and Sunflowers” in 2012. Her stories transport you from the United States to Provence, with the occasional dispatch from the United Kingdom. Longstaffe’s articles, provide readers with well-researched “Travel Tips from an English …

Contributor blog post by Vaucluse Dreamer: A couple of months ago a friend, who owns a beautiful property in the centre of Saignon offered me the chance to have a small Exhibition of my jewellery there this summer. Over the last couple of years I have started making jewellery from …

As a painter in the South of France, you rarely feel alone. There are reminders everywhere of those who have gone before – of Cézanne in the countryside around Aix and of Gauguin and Van Gogh in Arles and Saint-Rémy. But not all these impressions are specific to a place. …

My books are called Curious Histories and my blog is called the Curious Rambler. I like the word curious because of its double meaning: On the one hand, it means eager to know or learn something – which definitely applies to me: I’ve always been a curious person. But on …

The Musée Yves Brayer at Les Baux-de-Provence is hosting an exhibition of photography by Henri Cartier-Bresson, a friend of Brayer in Paris. Cartier-Bresson, from a well-to-do family in Seine-et-Marne, was given a Kodak Brownie as a child, which began his love for photography. This photo exhibit that runs until September …

One of the first artist friends I made after moving to Uzes was Andy Newman, an American with deep roots in France. Andy had read my blog and emailed to tell me about himself, that he and his partner had a home near here, and that he had painted many …

Recently, I met up with local author Bernadette Murphy, whose book ‘Van Gogh’s Ear – The True Story‘ has been such a success. It was chosen by BBC Radio 4 as their book of the week and was also the subject of a BBC2 TV documentary. The author certainly did her …

Beaucaire is a small town in the Gard department, located on the banks of the Rhône River and the start of the Rhône-Sète canal. The name Beaucaire means beautiful stone. There is evidence of a Gallo-Roman settlement in this hilly area as early as 11 BC. During the Roman era, …

Peter Mayle certainly started something back in 1989 when he published A Year in Provence. What a best-seller that turned out to be, and it launched a whole genre of ‘newcomer-to-Provence-buys-old-house/olive-grove books that document the inevitable cultural differences that we all bump up against. Is there anything more to be said? Book …

Contributor blog post by Ashley Tinker: Provence Vacation Portraits You may be curious, if you’re a regular here, where I’ve been during recent weeks. Well, I’ve been busy with photo shoots, itineraries and market tours. Provence truly is a magical place. The light is stunning and the landscape is stunning. I …