What we’ve realised since we bought the house this time last year is that there is no really bad time to cycle in Provence. Yes Summer is hot, but speaking as a‘mad dog’ I’m very happy to go out in the mid-day sun and to be honest it gives us …

#1 Nice Carnival, Nice 11 February – 25 February 2017 One of the world’s biggest carnivals, the 2017 theme for this annual event is ‘King of the Energy’. Fabulous flower battles, parades with floats and costumed actors and animations ensure a family-friendly event with plenty of entertainment. My top tips:  …

While most tourists visiting the Luberon head right for the spectacular villages of Gordes and Roussillon, there lies tucked away in a world all its own, the quiet, refined, and classy town of Goult. Classy is the word to describe this quaint little village with its photogenic little square of …

Contributor blog post by Access Riviera: Parc Vaugrenier is a park that we visit regularly and it’s easily accessible for many people visiting the region who may be staying in Villeneuve Loubet/Baie des Anges, Cagnes sur Mer, Biot, or Antibes. Vaugrenier: A past Roman site Located off the RN7, the …

Martine Bertin-Peterson is intrepid; she had a window of 90 minutes of “downtime” between her back-to-back tour groups, yet she agreed to meet me for a glass of rosé. Beneath the walls of the immense Palais des Papes in Avignon, we chatted about her food and wine excursions in Provence. …

Contributor blog post by Vaucluse Dreamer: The Véloroute du Calavon is a great off-road cycle path that runs the length of the petit-Luberon from near Cavaillon to beyond Apt. Built on the bed of an old railway track it offers a well-maintained, vehicle-free, flat route through some of the most …

The 2016 season has begun, a sure sign of which is the reopening of many of our favourite restaurants. La Bartavelle is a small cosy restaurant seating about 20 covers in the back streets of Goult. The menu at 45 € offers an amuse-bouche followed by a choice of two …

Millions of years of seismic activity, tectonic plate movement and freeze-thaw cycles created the diverse geology of present-day Provence. The region is also known as the Bouches de Rhône where the Mediterranean shoreline runs the gambit of beaches, brackish wetlands and vertigo-inducing cliffs. Other natural phenomena in the area include …

When we travel, we usually shun hotels. Sure, there’s a lot to be said about room service and having someone make your bed every day, but with the advent of Airbnb, HomeAway, and other vacation rental websites, we’ve opened our eyes to a new way to live like locals.  Why …

Clos Saint Paul is located just outside the village of Mazan in Provence’s Vaucluse. The 260-year-old building previously operated as a chambre d’hôte (B&B) for visitors interested in exploring Mont Ventoux and the villages of the Dentelles. This private, six-bedroom house is now owned by a group of Canadians who …