Immersion in the Heart of Glanum’s Ancient Ruins: Learning French Differently

Have you considered learning French on holiday? Virginie Van Der Wess lives in Provence with her family and offers French immersion homestay experiences. Located near the beautiful city of Aix-en-Provence, Virginie curates a custom holiday experience that suits each client. In this case, Jon and his wife Marie were interested in learning about Glanum, the ancient settlement outside of St Remy de Provence. Do you want to know about Provence’s Greek and Roman history, while improving your French? Please read Jon’s description of their visit to Glanum’s ancient ruins below.

Hello! My name is Jon. I am currently on a language immersion stay in Provence with my wife, Marie, hosted by Virginie. This is what many people call a French immersion in Provence. We chose this experience because we wanted to immerse ourselves in the language of Provence, learn French in France, and enjoy an authentic homestay experience.

This isn’t our first stay (it’s actually the second time we’ve come to Virginie’s in Provence), but every time we discover new things.

Today, I’d like to share a day that perfectly shows what language holidays in Provence are all about: a visit to Glanum, an exceptional archaeological site, followed by lunch in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.

On the road to Saint-Rémy: a French lesson in the Twingo

We left Rousset, the village where we’re staying, heading to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. In Virginie’s little Twingo, the road is never silent. Here, every drive becomes a French class.

The Provençal landscapes rolled by: hills, vineyards, olive groves. I love the French language, and a new word, a new expression, always catches my attention. That morning, I revised my vocabulary by describing the Provençal scenery.

That’s what an immersion stay in Provence is like: learning or reviewing French through conversations, without notebooks or stress, but in real life.

Glanum: visiting a unique archaeological site in Provence

Panoramic view of the ruins of Glanum, between history and Provençal landscapes.

At the entrance of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, nestled in the Alpilles mountains, lies Glanum, an ancient site. Honestly, it’s impressive!

Few people outside the region know about it, yet it’s one of the most important archaeological sites in Provence.

The sound of cicadas and the smell of pine gave the visit a typically Provençal atmosphere. Virginie explained in French that Glanum was first a Gaulish settlement, then influenced by the Greeks, and later became a prosperous Roman town.

Here you can still see:

• The Roman Forum: the main public square where political life and trade took place, the heart of the city.
• A basilica: not a church, but the main civic building where justice and business matters were conducted.
• Curia: the hall where city councillors met and debated important decisions.
• Roman baths: public baths, essential for hygiene but also for social encounters.
• A monumental mausoleum: an impressive Roman tomb built to honour a prominent family, a symbol of memory and prestige.

The Glanum mausoleum is an impressive Roman monument in Provence.

At the entrance to the site stands a mausoleum. As soon as we arrived in the parking lot, I had already learned a new word. Isn’t that crazy? In French slang, we say c’est ouf ! (it means “that’s insane!”). Learning in context helps me remember immediately.

Legends and the sacred spring of Glanum

The majestic columns of Glanum: a historical setting to learn French in immersion.

What makes Glanum unique is its sacred spring. For over 2,000 years, water has flowed here in the middle of the ruins. The ancient inhabitants came to make offerings—coins, pottery, various objects—asking for healing and prosperity.

Virginie explained that the spring was reputed to be miraculous. Even today, some visitors believe it still holds a special energy.

These historical anecdotes bring the site to life. For me, it was more than just a visit – it was a cultural immersion experience and a French lesson.

Between history and vocabulary: learning French while travelling

Discovering the ancient remains of Glanum, a unique archaeological site in Provence.

The visit takes at least two hours because the site is large. Each monument became an opportunity to enrich my vocabulary. In front of the walls, I repeated the word rempart (rampart). In front of the columns, we took countless photos. At the curia, we talked about the word assemblée (assembly).

This is exactly what I was hoping for: to learn French in Provence, reviewing it in context while visiting and experiencing the culture. Learning French in France isn’t just about studying—it’s about feeling it.

A gourmet pause: lunch in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

Lunch break in immersion in Saint-Rémy: sharing a typical meal after visiting Glanum

After this historical immersion, we headed to the center of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. The village is beautiful, with cobbled streets, fountains, and sunny terraces.

At our request, Virginie took us to an Asian restaurant—an amusing contrast amid the Provençal stone buildings. But if you prefer traditional cuisine, make sure to check out Virginie’s recipe for the daube provençale.

Beef Stew à la Provençal

A slow-cooked daube made with beef is a traditional recipe in the Provencal region.

Check out this recipe

We personally love Asian food. I chose shrimp noodles with a spicy coconut sauce and crunchy vegetables. Honestly, it was delicious! Virginie also loved this place, which she hadn’t known before.

A colourful dish enjoyed in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence: culinary discovery during a language immersion stay.

And even at the table, the French immersion continued. I’m not a beginner, so I already knew words like croquant (crispy) and épicé (spicy) to describe my dish. However, I revised other vocabulary, such as the nationalities of Asian countries.

That’s what makes a homestay language immersion in Provence so effective: every moment of daily life becomes a natural lesson.

A full day of language immersion in Provence

In just one day, I discovered an incredible archaeological site in Provence, learned about ten new words, and enjoyed a convivial meal. It was really cool!

What I take away from this immersion stay in Provence is that I progress without even realizing it. Words stick because they’re connected to places, emotions, and stories.

Conclusion: learning French in Provence is a living experience

A language immersion stay in Provence with Virginie is much more than French lessons: it’s total immersion, where every outing becomes a lesson, every meal an exercise, every encounter an exchange.

To find out more, also read about our excursion to Marseille and the Château d’If, following in the footsteps of the Count of Monte Cristo.

If you’re looking for a unique French immersion in Provence, through culture, gastronomy, and history, discover Virginie’s program: www.virginieinprovence.com. This article was initially published on Virginie in Provence.

Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence – Montagne St. Victoire: Full-day Wine tour from Marseille

Embark on a full-day wine tour from Marseille or its surrounding cities to the captivating Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence, the westernmost vineyards of Provence.

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Virginie Van Der Wees

Virginie Van Der Wees lives with her young family near the Montagne Sainte Victoire, a short 20-minute drive from Aix-En-Provence. She is a masseuse and a certified French teacher for non-French speakers. Since 2018, Virginie puts together full immersion experiences that include hosting and supporting language learners at their family home.

The Virginie in Provence curriculum allows students to build on their knowledge and move to the next level and beyond – all while enjoying the wonders that Provence has to offer. Suitable for any age group, Virginie offers adapted, tailor-made solutions for clients who are moving to Provence. This program allows them to improve their French and overcome cultural changes. Virginie also provides classic French lessons and cooking lessons (in French) online or at the client’s home.