Magical Lavender Spotting a lavender field in flower for the first time is magical, but it’s the fragrance that is heavenly. The tiny plants stretch towards the horizon, like small purple streams. It’s little wonder why you see so many images of people posing against this stunning backdrop. Lavender fields, …

Finally! Carrières de Lumières It’s always good to finally tick something off the list of things you have wanted to do for a while. Last year, we finally got to see the Fête du Citron (now to be an annual event for us). Yesterday I got around to seeing the …

Hot Air Ballooning in Provence A couple months ago we were invited on a hot air balloon ride with AeroProvence. I think Tom, the owner, felt obligated with my enthusiastic likes and comments on all his Instagram posts of fields and fields of lavender. Experiencing a ride in a hot …

Provencal Getaway With long weekends on the horizon, why not plan a short break in Provence? Gather some friends or family and head south for some warm weather, blue skies, gourmet food and sightseeing. Touring Ideas in Provence Late June through August, Provence treats her visitors to flowering lavender and …

By Caroline Longstaffe: Shopping in Lourmarin As we’ve spent increasing amounts of time in Lourmarin we’ve come to know more of the people in the village, all of whom have been warm and welcoming.  Like us, many of them are not originally from the area but similarly captivated by its’ enchantment have …

Spring is Upon us! Or, at least, it is here. The almonds are blooming and it’s about 20 degrees in the sun. I remember growing up in Montréal when you could smell the spring mud and ice thawing, there would always be one last snow generally right before my birthday …

Vincent Van Gogh is a fascinating figure. Learn about his time in a mental institution in Saint Remy de Provence with this book Starry Night, Van Gogh at the Asylum. Van Gogh in Saint Remy de Provence I have to admit that I didn’t really appreciate the works of Van …

Cooking Classes in Uzès I’ve been to about six local cooking classes offered by cooking schools in the Luberon, Alpilles and the Languedoc. I have to say, Le Pistou Cooking School, owned by Petra, is one of my favourites. Petra’s kitchen is located down a little road in the centre …

Chic Hotel Le Saint-Remy After a 20-month construction timeline, Le Saint-Remy opened its doors to hotel guests in August 2018. The 19th-century mansion constructed for Colonel Chambéry with its cour d’honneur (ceremonial courtyard) would have been majestic in its heyday, but more recently it was dilapidated. Didier Rivière leveraged his …

Occasionally it’s time to say goodbye to a house. Even if it is one that you built yourselves and where all four (yes 4!) of your children grew-up. Recently, I was hiking with Agathe Forest of Live & Love Provence in the Alpilles. She shared that their family home was on the market so …