Feel the Music: Unforgettable Summer Concerts in Provence by Candlelight

Imagine sitting in a comfortable seat in an ancient Roman city with a mountain rising behind it. As the sun sets, and you can see thousands of candles among the ruins, perched on stone walls, stairs, and fallen columns.

As the sky darkens, the candles begin to glow. Then, a string quartet comes out and starts to play beautiful music. It is an experience that can only be described as magical.

My wife and I enjoyed that magic in June in the ancient Greek and Roman city of Glanum near St-Rémy-de-Provence. While you might expect an elegant string quartet to play classical music, we were treated to none other than Queen’s greatest hits (here is a short video from the concert)! It was beautiful and hilarious at the same time.

Unforgettable Summer Concerts

Our concert was part of the Candlelight Summer program, held all over Provence in cities like Avignon, Marseille, and Nice. The music ranged from classical composers like Vivaldi and Bach to modern stars like Nina Simone and the Beatles.

Photo ©candlelightexperience.com

The concert settings are spectacular: The Citadelle in Marseille, the Papal Palace in Avignon, the ancient Pont du Gard aqueduct, and more. The program runs throughout the summer, with dozens of concerts throughout Provence.

If you can’t enjoy a magical night of music in Provence, never fear! Fever, the company that organizes the concerts, holds them in over 100 cities worldwide—maybe in one near you!

Photo ©feverup.com

Practical Information

Fever’s website for candlelight events is here.

Here are a few shortcuts:
Candlelight concerts in Aix-en-Provence
Candlelight concerts in Avignon
Candlelight concerts in Marseille
Candlelight concerts in Nice
Candlelight concerts in Pont du Gard

Keith Van Sickle

Keith and Val Van Sickle made their first trip to Provence decades ago, and it was love at first sight. After that, they came back every year until 2008, when they began a part-time life there, splitting their time between Provence and California.

Over the years, they’ve travelled all over Provence, seeing sights both well-known and obscure. Their French friends have introduced them to favourite restaurants and wineries and picnic spots and taught them funny local expressions (not all for polite company).

Keith now shares this local knowledge in his new book, An Insider’s Guide to Provence. Packed with the Van Sickles’ favourite things to see and do, it’s a must-have for anyone travelling to this glorious corner of France.

Keith previously published two books about the couple's experiences in Provence. One Sip at a Time: Learning to Live in Provence, and Are We French Yet?, both are available from Amazon.

You can see all of Keith’s blog posts at Life in Provence.