Always good for entertainment, and the odd little treasure are the vide greniers; France’s answer to garage sales. These are sales on a village scale, with a festive atmosphere. Typically, vendors secure a spot by paying a nominal fee to the local town hall (Marie).  The wares for sale, oscillate between …

Raising the Curtain on Filming in Provence This is the theme of a talk on the local film industry here in Provence at the IAU in Aix-en-Provence, on Tuesday May 3. It’s organised by the MAABN (Mediterranean Anglo-American Business Network), in partnership with the IAU. Provence has a long tradition …

Contributor blog post by Access Riviera: Jazz e Brasil will inject some Latino rhythm in your afternoon on Saturday 30 April when the Cannes Bel Age Orchestra pairs with the Rio Ao Vivo Orchestra to bring a concert of jazz, Brazilian music and swing alongside capoeira and dancers. 3pm, Espace …

If you are lucky enough to be in Provence in time for the traditional movement of sheep and livestock (spring and fall) you might catch a transhumance as the animals head to greener pastures. Although, this is really for tourists and kids now it remains something worth seeing. The practice …

Carnaval in Aix is great fun: last year it took me hours to get all the confetti out of my hair and clothes…and it reappeared in the apartment for days afterwards. The children of the town take great delight in flinging handfuls everywhere. This year the event takes place on …

Now open! The 2016 show at the Carrieres de Lumieres at Les Baux de Provence – it’s ‘Chagall: Songes d’Une Nuit d’Eté’. What a treat this should be! If you haven’t visited before, this is a unique venue, a disused quarry where 100 projectors transmit images across the 14m high walls and …

The cherry trees are flowering in Provence and there are punnets full of local tasty strawberries varieties at the local veg shop. We’ve officially (only today) moved into our new house and though we’re quite busy- …Continue reading here for Ashley’s list of all the festivals and events happening primarily in the Bouches …

Network Provence has been set up for local women to promote their businesses. I attended one of their meetings in Aix back in November and really enjoyed learning about activities being set up. There are so many women who find themselves in Provence and set up businesses to fit around their …

Depending on your perspective the tiny village of Aureille, on the southern slopes of the Alpilles, is either old-school Provence at its best or way too sleepy. If this part of Provence were America’s wild west, Aureille might be described as a “one horse town.” There are two main roads, …

Images from La Belle Èpoque (1871-1914) on the French Riviera generate the impression of a whimsical golden era brimming with pleasurable pursuits and indulgences. It was a time of pure fantasy; the stuff little girls might dream of — castles, palatial homes, ball gowns and glass slippers. For Madame Ephrussi, …