When my widowed mum announced that she was moving to France we all assumed that she would settle in Brittany or Normandy – places she had visited many times with my father. Within easy reach of the UK and her beloved granddaughter the north of France seemed sensible. My strong-willed …

Château Pesquié is Provencal postcard perfection, with the soaring limestone summit of Mont Ventoux as a backdrop and a leafy canopy of plane trees shading the entranceway to the bastide. The Provencal name pesquié is a derivative from Latin “pescarium” meaning fishpond or basin. This region may be one of …

Previously published on Ginger and Nutmeg: Biking in France Whether you own a custom-fit, carbon fiber steed with electronic shifters or a three-gear cruiser bike with tassels, you have to admit that watching the Tour de France each July is addictive. The right to wear the maillot jaune is earned over …

Provence is known for its picturesque villages and stunning scenery, and the Luberon Valley has some of the most famous towns perched on hillsides, historically for defence purposes and provide lovely photos today. Below is our list of 10 villages that we considered must-sees in the Luberon Valley: Ansouis The …

We have featured many villages and larger towns from St Remy to Nice in our “Where we live in Provence” series, including other places in the Luberon. Perhaps missed by the typical tourist itineraries, Rustrel is a small Luberon Valley village worth visiting. We asked Beth, who owns a home …

With its “painter’s light” and powerful landscapes, Provence was immortalized by Paul Cézanne, Vincent Van Gogh and other famous artists. However, the region is continually building its reputation as a magnet for art and creativity. From parks to vineyards to glass factories, here are 12 places to see contemporary art …

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 …

My wife and I live part of the year in St-Rémy-de-Provence, a town famous for its Roman ruins, Vincent van Gogh, and its fabulous weekly market. I’ve written two guidebooks about the area, plus hundreds of articles, so I get many questions from people planning a visit. While this isn’t …

Throughout the Luberon region, the landscape is peppered with fields of small, round-shaped lavender bushes, which for almost nine months of the year lie dormant like sleeping hedgehogs. In the spring, they begin to sprout, and from about the middle of June, their fragrant flowers bloom, fanning their purple fronds …

The Luberon region in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region of southern France is known for its picturesque villages and stunning natural beauty. These nine (9) villages are considered must-sees in the Luberon Valley: Ansouis You’ll find the village of Ansouis tucked inside the Parc naturel regional du Luberon. It is built …