Our first visit to the famous Sunday market in L’Isle sur la Sorgue was a nippy, blue-sky autumn morning. The summer crowds may have dispersed, but finding parking remained a bit of a contact sport. We got lucky. Why drag yourself out of bed to visit this Provencal town? Here …

When imagining Provence, perhaps you think of three-star Michelin restaurants serving snails with white truffles, paired with decades-old Bandol rosé. Sure thing, but regular French people also live in Provence and don’t have that much money to spare on a meal. Smart tourists will follow the local’s lead and can …

For two decades, Gayle Padgett and her husband Ralph maintained a long-distance relationship with Provence. They often travelled to the South of France during their vacation time from US government jobs in Germany. As their retirement years approached, the “Where are we going to live?” question loomed. The couple chose …

Travel and Literature: two passions that usually go hand in hand! After all, surprising stories are what we look for in books and the most diverse scenarios in the world. One of the most inspiring places in this context is Provence. Lavender fields, mountain inland villages, historic cities, nature parks, …

Popes and Red Wine Villages in Provence’s Rhone Valley In my view, there is no better place to begin this wine village itinerary than historic Avignon. The city was once the seat of the Catholic Church and home of several Popes during the Middle Ages. I have chosen seven of …

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 …

Hilltop Village La Cadière-d’Azur is a small medieval village perched on the edge of a cliff on the hill across from Le Castellet in the south-west of the Var region. After we finished our walk-about Le Castellet, we decided that since we were in the area, we should cross the valley …

Who could blame New Zealand native Rebecca Whitlocke for falling in love with an Englishman and the French Riviera? For over a decade, Rebecca has lived with her young family on the French Riviera in Juan les Pins. This seaside town is a relatively small centre, as compared to Nice …

World War II France Jean Moulin is not a familiar name to those, like myself, who only took basic history courses in school. Our overview of World War II never mentioned this wartime hero. Once we began spending time in the Alpilles and noticed the Route Jean Moulin road signs, …

Narrowing down the reasons to visit this corner of France to only 10 is a difficult task. Provence covers broad geography in the southeastern section of the country. It’s here where the Rhône River reaches the Mediterranean, and the Southern Alps give way to fields and beaches. The Romans left …