Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Explore · Road Trips South of France Grotte Chauvet 2 at Caverne du Pont d’Arc a Time Warp April 7, 2020It took 90 minutes to turn back the clock 36,000 years. The Grotte Chauvet 2 is a UNESCO World Heritage Site at Caverne du Pont d’Arc. Located in the Ardeche, it’s a quick drive from most locations in the Bouches du Rhône. The site which opened to the public in 2015 includes a 3,500 m2 …Continue Reading
Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Explore · Provencal History & Traditions Touring Mysterious Château de Saumane in the Vaucluse February 21, 2018Until recently the village of Saumane, in the Vaucluse, was not on many tourist’s itineraries and the town’s residents probably liked it that way. After four years of restoration work and a large budget, the hilltop Château de Saumane has opened for public visits during summer months. Writer, philosopher, political activist Marquis de Sade lived in …Continue Reading
Explore · Julie Whitmarsh · Stay Fit Riding Mont Ventoux Wasn’t My Plan June 16, 2021Sitting in the north of the Vaucluse, on the border with the Drome, Mont Ventoux dominates the skyline. This mountain, with its white-scree summit, is an iconic landmark and its profile is instantly recognizable from afar, even as far away as the Camargue. Mont Ventoux can be seen from many places around the department. The …Continue Reading
Explore · Guest Post Aix Mansions Sale Update April 12, 2016Last autumn, it was announced that two mansions in centre ville were for sale. The town authorities wished to divest themselves of buildings which weren’t functional and cost too much to maintain. Now there is some progress to report on one. The Hotel de Valbelle, currently the sous-prefecture, in rue Mignet, has been snapped up by …Continue Reading