Over 100,000 people (some estimates as high as 126,000) died in Provence between 1720 and 1722, including almost 50% of Marseille’s population some 46,000 inhabitants. All in the name of commerce. The Grand Saint-Antoine arrived in Marseille’s port on May 25, 1720, from Syria (previously Levan), the vessel was late, …

Cantilevered to a Luberon hillside are the striking remains of an ancient oppidum and its defensive dry-stone walls; Gordes can rightly boast about its ranking among les Plus Beaux Villages de France. However, at the height of Provence’s tourist season this town, with its single thoroughfare, becomes a ghastly traffic …

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. …

Linda Garson spent her youth in Manchester, in the United Kingdom, a place best known for soccer matches and beer-filled celebrations, not necessarily for wine expertise. A visual communications graduate, Linda relocated to Canada (Calgary) in 2003 on a contract with Trade UK – the British Government’s export division. The …

After a 45-year business career with some of the largest corporations in the world, Anthony Craig called it quits. It was a milestone moment when he resigned from nine corporate boards, and he and his wife relocated to Provence. Craig is now a published author, his book It’s All About Lunch shares their story of renovations …

Traveling by train from Uzes to Nice for a weekend at the beach is a piece of cake. The low cost train fare makes the trip a “must.” Now that I’m planning to travel a lot by train in Europe, I’m glad to have the “senior” rail pass …Continue reading here for …

Contributor blog post by Ashley Tinker: Velleron night market is one of the best producer’s markets in Southern France. It has been continually included within the 100 “marchés d’exception” in France by the Conseil National des Arts Culinaires. The market is open daily, except Sunday of course, in the hot …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: Van Gogh was so incredibly productive that, while in Arles and in Saint-Remy, he produced some 500 works; so it’s always seemed sad that there was, until recently, only one of his paintings in Provence (in Avignon). Two more have arrived (one in Aix and …

Nestled in the heart of Provence, you will find a true Hidden Gem – Château de Mazan. The former residence of the Marquis de Sade, an 18th Century French aristocrat, politician and writer who was infamous for his outrageous, libertine lifestyle, this stunning Château is an ideal destination for a relaxing …

Contributor blog post by Krista Bender: I am just back from exploring the vineyards of the Rhone Valley…. I adventured with my classmates to some of the top vineyards in Hermitage, Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Avignon. It was a beautiful 73 degrees and sunny in the alpes ….nothing better than wine tasting …