A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to do a pop-up event with my jewellery in the cellar of our friends’ newly restored townhouse and apartments in the centre of Apt Cent Cinq. I say cellar, but this was the most beautiful, vaulted stone room, set below the …

One of my favourite biking routes is the Véloroute du Calavon, in the Luberon Valley. It’s a pretty ride and very easy. Biking on a Voie Verte This route is a voie verte (or “greenway”), a paved route for bikers, walkers and rollerbladers. There is a network of them in …

Provencal markets, like French cheeses, come in many sizes and varieties. For food lovers, selecting just-picked produce, fresh fish, local meat, and cheeses is a culinary delight. In many cases, this is precisely how local chefs decide upon their daily menus and the signature plat du jour. Every Day is …

Since On Thursday evenings, between July 8th and August 19th, food and wine lovers have a chance to explore several vineyards near Aix-en-Provence on Thursday nights. 1 Domaine 1 Chef is a program that combines education, wine tasting, and delicious picnics or gourmet meals prepared by renowned local chefs. 1 …

Surrounded by olive trees, grapevines and backing onto a private woodland Les Vallons has jaw-dropping views in every direction. Once part of a hamlet, the home was fully restored by the British owners to create a holiday rental home that can sleep 12 comfortably. Les Vallons was constructed in traditional …

The label Jardin remarquable (Remarkable Garden) started in 2004 to celebrate and document France’s magnificent gardens. A Jardin Remarquable must meet the established criteria. The requirements include integration in the site, an interesting blend of vegetation, quality of the location, engaging use of plants and, where applicable, provide historical interest. …

Provence takes a long time to wake up in the morning. Especially on market days in Aix-en-Provence. It may be cold, grey, and dark when the market vendors arrive, but eventually, the market starts to buzz when the sun rises. Vendors begin arriving at 5:30 am for set up. I …

Holiday planning is not for the faint of heart. Spending your precious vacation time with family or friends is a bit like rolling the dice at a casino. Striking the delicate balance between activity, sightseeing, and relaxation to suit everyone’s taste is a juggling act. To control what you can, …

A decade after the publication of Peter Mayle’s A Year in Provence, Georgina Causton and her partner took a sabbatical year in Provence. Instead of returning to London, they bought three properties creating luxury rental villas that they call Paradis en Provence. Luxury Holiday Villas Situated in the heart of …

Americans Susan and Sam Gish moved to Aix-en-Provence two years ago. It’s unlikely that this Francophile couple’s relocation to France, from Philadelphia, was a surprise to any of their food industry friends. During previous travels to France, Susan and Sam discovered the influence of terroir in the different French wine …