We often take day trips away from our home in Sablet (book your stay here) to explore the Vaucluse and surrounding Departments. We probably go most often to the hilltop villages of the Luberon, including Venasque, which is what we did a few weeks ago. Venasque is a pretty small …

Paul Shawcross lives in Newcastle, England, and he is a devoted Francophile who has made many work and personal trips to France. In 1979, passing through France for the first time on the way to Spain, his long relationship with the French country and its culture began. A professional travel …

La daube provençale – A provençal specialty with beef (or other meats) that you may try during your French immersion program with me in Provence Hello everyone. Today I’m talking to you about one of the most typical dishes of Provence. Here, everyone knows this specialty. That doesn’t mean everyone …

Chefs in Provence build their menus around seasonal, locally available produce, small-batch cheeses, ethically raised meats and Mediterranean seafood. However, as a visitor, knowing where to go for good value food is not always evident. So we asked the owners of Le Prieuré La Madelène for suggestions on places they …

Located in Provence’s wine country, Fontaine des Magnarelles is a delightful Bed and Breakfast (B&B). The 18th-century Provençal country house, constructed with traditional stone, has five spacious guest bedrooms. In addition, there is a communal space with room for sharing meals, playing board games, and planning excursions. Each morning guests …

If you like French wine, there is a good chance that you have sampled some vintages from the Rhône Valley. Some vineyards in the southern Rhône are near the famous Mont Ventoux – Provence’s giant mountain. This article focuses on six (6) villages in the Côtes du Rhône wine region. …

Between the intense month-plus-long heatwave and lack of rain this past summer, our planet is obviously not happy. There was a moment during the pandemic when the planet was given a chance to take a big breath of fresh air. But that didn’t last long, and we are back to …

Lyon is the 3rd largest city in France and the French capital of gastronomy! With its beautiful old town, many restaurants, museums and shops, there are plenty of things to do in Lyon. Here are all our tips for your next road trip or a perfect weekend trip in Lyon. …

One of the many things that drew us to buying a home in Sablet was its location in the Cotes-du-Rhone wine appellation and proximity to renowned villages such as Gigondas, Vacqueyras, and Chateauneuf-du-Pape. While we like all the wines from this region, some of our favourites are the wines produced …

Beautiful Bird Homes Thousands of pigeonniers, or pigeon towers, dot the landscape of the south of France. If you look for them, you will quickly realise that they come in an astonishing variety of shapes, sizes and styles. Arguably, no creature has had more beautiful homes built for it than …