Book Review: The Beginner’s Guide to the French Riviera from French Press Travel Books 2016 After 17 years of travelling to the French Riviera every summer, and one very interesting winter and spring, and after being the go-to person among my friends and colleagues for advice about travelling to Paris and …

Sun shades are a quintessential part of Provençal life. No holiday in the South of France would be complete without a top-class meal on the terrace of a bistro under elegant shade sails, or enjoying an aperitif during the last warm rays of the evening light beneath the sun shades …

Most people (read tourists) go to l’Isle sur la Sorgue for one of two reasons: The Sunday market – one of the largest in the region The 300+ antique stores and dealers Very few would go because they were expecting Venice in Provence. Ginger and Nutmeg had only visited for the …

Contributor blog post by Margo Lestz: How could a fabric that originated in India, was copied by Armenians, and outlawed in France become a symbol of Provence? The kaleidoscope of cotton fabrics that punctuate the Provençal markets today, just seem to shout “southern France.” They are decorated with cicadas, olives, …

Christian Detaux always wanted to be an artist.  For as long as he can remember, he’s been drawing and painting and shaping forms. At the age of 16, Detaux applied to the prestigious “Ecole des Beaux Arts” in Paris, ready to embark on a career as an artist.  But then he …

Iconic Promenade des Anglais The celebrated 7-kilometre coastal boulevard between the sea and palm trees offers superb views of the Bay of Nice and gives the city its unique identity. The openness and long span of the uninterrupted path gives a sense of freedom and space that is found nowhere else. …

Contributor blog post by Ashley Tinker: I came across this document in a pile of papers in a French flea market. It’s dated 1896. I find details like this really indicative of their time and culture. For example, the imagery of a military hat, canon, soldiers, rifle, and sword are most …

Robin and I drove over the Alpilles to see the Transhumance pass through the town of Saint Remy de Provence. The Transhumance is when, in the Spring, the sheep from the southern plains are led back up to the cooler mountains to graze on the fresh grass there. …Continue reading …

Contributor blog post by Margo Lestz: When you think of French writer, Victor Hugo, you probably think of his classic works, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Notre Dame de Paris)” or “Les Misérables.” You probably wouldn’t associate him with the Joker, that mad super-villain with the maniacal laugh who is …

Contributor blog post by Access Riviera; Next month, two of the most exciting events on the French Riviera are set to thrill worldwide media – the 70th Cannes Film Festival 2017, and the 75th race of the Monaco F1 Grand Prix. Hosted in the second half of May, these are …