Contributor blog post by Mirabeau Wine: Sir Francis of Assisi established the tradition of nativity scenes in 1223 with live enactments by people and animals during the midnight mass on Christmas eve in his church of Greccio, Italy. The tradition halted after the French Revolution, when many churches were closed. …

November in Provence. Bring on the chestnuts! We’re currently in Corsica and it seems that roasting them in your front yard is the thing to do. Love it. Are you in the holiday spirit yet? The massive amounts of high-quality chocolate boxes at the supermarkets are tempting me… Has anyone …

Contributor blog post by Access Riviera: Happy Halloween! Halloween, usually celebrated on 31st October each year, has slowly been gathering steam since I first moved to France, but for expats who are used to lots of activities and events during Halloween you’ll have to remember that it isn’t a traditionally …

Contributor blog post by Ashley Tinker: Octobre en Provence With the grape harvest long done due to a very dry summer, locals are concentrating on the olive harvest this month. You’ll drive by olive groves and see wooden ladders hidden among the trees. Furthermore, the olives vertes cassées made by many …

I was very keen to see the work of Annie Liebovitz in Arles (on until September 24th). Firstly to see the exhibition of the early work of this important American photographerbut also to find out what is happening at the new fast-developing Parc des Ateliers arts centre. Luma Foundation’s “Luma …

Contributor blog post by Ashley Tinker: August is a quiet month in Provence where everyone believes it to be their right to do absolutely nothing (farniente) that requires any energy (other than catching up with friends, sunbathing by the pool or on the beach) In September, there are plenty of festivals …

Contributor blog post by Ashley Tinker: This is the month where just about the whole of Northern France descends onto the beaches of the Côte d’Azur. On the radio, they announce “black weekends” which signify lots of Parisians heading south causing a rather lot of traffic. Everyone is finally 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 …

Contributor blog post by Access Riviera: Hosted at Vieux Port in Cannes, this summer families can enjoy free events that demonstrate the old tradition of provençale joutes. Cannes : History of the Joutes Provençales Joutes provençales originate from the Egyptian era; fishermen from the French Riviera originally set up a …

Sixty paintings by Alfred Sisley (1839-1899) went on show June 10th in Aix at the Caumont Centre d’Art’s summer show. The painter, was born to English parents in Paris, hasn’t been the subject of a retrospective since 2002. Forty percent of this show includes paintings from private collections not seen in …