Memoirs Inspired by Provence For many, Peter Mayle’s best-selling novel A Year in Provence was their introduction to the Provencal countryside. Images of the Côte d’Azur have long covered the pages of travel magazines. Still, Mayle’s descriptions of bumbling through a home renovation in the arrière-pays (translation: backcountry or hinterland) shifted …

Provence Food Trucks When you think of Provence, it’s unlikely that a food truck is a culinary image that springs to mind. However, the number of food trucks in the region is exploding. Most of these trucks are mobile, available to travel to private venues, public gatherings, markets and festivals. …

Lourmarin on Fridays Early on Friday morning, when the clock chimes eight, the sound of clanking metal posts gently peppers the air. White vans fill the car park outside my door, and market stalls spring up in Lourmarin’s Place Henri Barthélémy, spilling out along the streets. Friday is market day …

By Jemma: It’s all about the ants. I’ve never forgotten the advice from one of my earliest writing teachers. You can go on a glorious picnic – the food, conversation, and the weather all perfection – but you have no story until the ants arrive. They invade your blanket and …

It was a pleasure to read an advance copy of A Season of Surprises at the Villa des Violettes, the latest book by Patricia Sands. This novella is the second in a series about Katherine (Kat) and Philippe’s new home (Villa des Violettes), and soon-to-be Bed and Breakfast near Antibes. …

Reasons to Visit Marseille M for Museums: When you go, plan to visit the museums in Marseille. There is something for every artistic taste and attention span with a range of curated artistic styles and artifacts. History buffs head to Fort Saint-Jean, Musée d’ Histoire de Marseille (one of the …

The following list includes books we have read and recommend to anyone who wants a “dose” of Provence. Whether you have visited the region or always dreamed of doing so, this collection includes cookbooks, guidebooks, memoirs, love stories, mysteries and more. Enjoy our Provencal Reading List! Search by book type …

This guest post is by Susana Iwase Hanson, the founder of Provence Living Cotignac.  Susana is multi-talented and tri-lingual. She lives with her family in the Var in the beautiful, rural village of Cotignac (read more about her interesting backstory here). But after living on many continents, big city living …

There’s a new obsession running around in my head: “visit as many of France’s ‘Les Plus Beaux Villages‘ as I possibly can.”  So far, I’ve seen only 10 out of some 156 “authentic” Les Plus Beaux Villages. I have a lot of travelling to do. Les Plus Beaux Villages There …

What’s On? During the summer in Provence and the Côte d’Azur, daytime temperatures range from warm to hot. So, you don’t need an excuse to laze by the pool. At this time of year, the lavender is in bloom and the sunflowers put on a spectacular floral show. From music …