Sue Aran

Sue Aran is an American who followed her dream of living in France. Since 2006, she has lived in a tiny village in the Gers department of southwest France. She owns French Country Adventures, which provides private, personally-guided, small-group, slow travel tours into Gascony, the Pays Basque, Occitanie and Provence. Fully bilingual, Sue is also a writer and photographer. In addition, she posts a quarterly newsletter about her life in France and contributes to several online and print magazines.

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The Art of Food: Cooking Classes with Suzanne Kay in Provence

October 30, 2024

For the past 11 years, I have guided tours through Provence. One of my tours, Edible Provence, offers two (2) cooking classes. Last year, I was very disappointed with one of the cooking class instructors I’d been using and needed to find someone new. While browsing the internet, I landed on the website of the …

Hotels Provence & Cote d'Azur · Stay: Accommodation & Rentals in Provence · Sue Aran

Hotel Les Templiers in Aigues Mortes a Boutique Hotel that Feels like Home

January 29, 2024

Hôtel Les Templiers, a home-turned-hotel, offers a personal twist on French hospitality. Aigues Mortes Boutique Hotel The hotel is housed in a 17th-century merchant’s house in the fortified, medieval village of Aigues Mortes, nestled between the Rhône River Delta and the Mediterranean Sea. Originally a small hamlet of fishermen and salt gatherers, the monumental old …

Explore · Guided Holiday Tours · Sue Aran

The Best of the Camargue from Towns to Wildlife For Visitors

November 3, 2023

The Camargue region is one of the most unique areas in France, a vast salt delta of marshland and sand dunes encompassing more than 247,000 acres, nestled between the two branches of the Rhône River, the Grand and Petit, both originating in the Swiss Alps. The word Camargue derives from a Celto-Ligurian (Provençal) Ca-mar dialect …

Bed & Breakfasts in Provence · Stay: Accommodation & Rentals in Provence · Sue Aran

A Magical Stay at Le Prieuré La Madelène B&B in Provence

June 5, 2023

Imagine living in a beautifully restored 12th-century priory set amidst fields of bright orange poppies while enjoying a delicious breakfast or an evening aperitif on a shaded terrace under a starlit sky. Or relax by a tranquil pool, take leisurely day trips to nearby villages, and be guided to restaurants by your hosts, each suggested …

Artists Inspired by Provence · Inspire · Sue Aran · Villages Towns and Cities

For Provencal Pottery Visit Caromb a Village in the Vaucluse

March 30, 2023

The village of Caromb in the Vaucluse is a place you pass through on your way to somewhere else. Caromb has a quiet mystique, and like many Provençal villages, it is bathed in the dappled light of ancient plane trees. According to local legends, Caromb was once the haven of alchemists, though today, the only …

Inspire · Provencal History & Traditions · Sue Aran

Gypsy Pilgrimage to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in the Camargue

March 4, 2022

I find myself increasingly comfortable listening to conversations I don’t understand. Throaty vowels, rusty consonants, over half a dozen languages being spoken at once; French, Spanish, Catalan, American, Austrian, Italian, Romani during the Gypsy Festival, Pélerinage Gitan, in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. Listening with our minds instead of our hearts, language often limits the art of being human. …

Explore · Sue Aran · Villages Towns and Cities

Alyscamps the Roman Burial in Arles is a Must-See

February 24, 2022

Immortalized in Dante’s Inferno, Alyscamps, one of the most famous historical burial grounds outside of Rome, is a short walk from the centre of Arles in the southwestern corner of Provence. The day my tour group visited, there was no one else there except a few stray cats, and the autumnal hues hadn’t yet colourized …

Seaside Villefranche 1-Bedroom Apartment

Sur le Toit is a charming, remodelled 1-bedroom vacation rental in Old Town Villefranche-sur-Mer with gorgeous views.

Côte d’Azur (French Riviera)
One Bedroom

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Rental Home in Crillon-le-Brave for 6 People

Designed for indoor-outdoor living, Villa Armajeva has three spacious bedrooms and all the modern comforts for a family vacation. Enjoy the views from any one of the terraces. The Crillon-le-Brave village centre is steps from this lovely home.

Vaucluse
Three Bedrooms

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5-Bedroom Country House Near Apt

Chez Manon is a private countryside location that is large enough for family gatherings and a relaxing place to unwind and explore Provence.

Luberon
Vaucluse
Five Bedrooms

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B&B Near Avignon Rhône Wine Country

Fontaine des Magnarelles is a charming Bed and Breakfast located in the heart of Provence's famous southern Rhône Valley.

Vaucluse
Bed and Breakfast

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1-Bedroom Apartment in Villefranche-sur-Mer

Le Beau Balcon is a sunny apartment on Rue Volti in the heart of the old town, the building is a short walk to shops and restaurants.

Côte d’Azur (French Riviera)
One Bedroom

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Provence Marketplace

Stylish Basket Bag for Summer Fashion

Introducing the stylish and compact Andale Basket Bag, measuring 18 x 15 x 8 cm (7 x 6 x 3 inches). This bag features a leather closure and an adjustable shoulder strap for added convenience. Sourced by My French Country Home, the bag is available in three vibrant colours: green, mandarin, and yellow. Additionally, it includes an interior pocket for better organization.

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Beeswax Candles in a Traditional Pillar Shape

Handcrafted in Apis Cera's workshop in Provence, Ambroise is a 100% pure beeswax candle pillar produced in a custom mold. A cylindar-shaped candle gets it's name from Saint Ambrose (c. 340 – 397), the archbishop of Milan, who was the protector of beekeepers. Sold in a set of two (2) candles they burn for approximately 36 hours.

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Heart-Shaped Plates in Olive Wood

Add some flair to your next dinner party with these heart-shaped plates made with French olive wood. Sold individually, these plates are easy to maintain; wash them in soap and water and dry them immediately. Not suitable for dishwashers. They are sold by My French Country Home Box.

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Bright and Beautiful Table Linens from Provence

Discover the Beaulieu linen collection features Provence's iconic sunflower in yellows and blues. This collection includes , napkins and table runners. Made with 100% cotton these products from Remember Provence are durable and easy to clean.

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Lavender Sachet from Provence “Cyprès”

L'AUGUSTE Provence organic lavender sachets featuring a row of cypress trees. These sachets are decorative objects with a delicate soothing fragrance.

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Lavender Sachet from Provence

L'AUGUSTE Provence organic lavender sachets are decorative objects with additional wellness benefits and the delicate scent is soothing.

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Bee Pattern Drinking Glasses

Made by La Rochère, this French glassware is sturdy and easy to clean. The cheerful bee pattern will remind you of summertime in Provence. They are sold as a set of two by French Address.

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Small White Cotton Handbag for Summer

Make your summer style effortless with this Small White Handbag by Tampico Bags from France. Made with durable cotton with elegant leather trimmings, this compact tote is ideal for carrying your essentials while maintaining a sophisticated, minimalist look. Sourced by My French Country Home it comes with a dust bag for added convenience and care.

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Great Tote Bag in Cotton String

Bring on warm weather with these Cotton String Bags in three colours (white, tan, and black). Take this tote from My French Country Home box to the market, beach or an evening out. Buy one in each colour, as they are the perfect accessory for Spring and Summer seasons.

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Download Our Summer Menu Collection

Sue Aran

The Art of Food: Cooking Classes with Suzanne Kay in Provence

Hotel Les Templiers in Aigues Mortes a Boutique Hotel that Feels like Home

The Best of the Camargue from Towns to Wildlife For Visitors

A Magical Stay at Le Prieuré La Madelène B&B in Provence

For Provencal Pottery Visit Caromb a Village in the Vaucluse

Gypsy Pilgrimage to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in the Camargue

Alyscamps the Roman Burial in Arles is a Must-See

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