I’m a real Francophile and have stayed in more than one hundred towns, cities, villages and hamlets in France. Twenty-two of these have been in Provence, the shortest for one night, the longest for four months. Every time I plan a trip to Provence, the dilemma is where to choose… …

Recently, we introduced you to Shutters and Sunflowers, a blog about the Provencal landscape and many other things that inspire Caroline Longstaffe to write. Please read the full story here. The Longstaffe family lived in Provence for about 18 months in 2012-13 and were smitten. We asked Caroline if she …

 “Thirty-five minutes from St Tropez” I first learnt of the concept of house-sitting on holiday in 2006. We had rented an apartment in a lovely house just south of La Garde Freinet, a small town in the Var, about twenty minutes from Saint-Tropez. I realised that house-sitting might be a …

Find out why Jill finds Saint Tropez seductive… The little ferryboat slowly makes its way across the glittering bay toward the historic Saint Tropez, from Port Grimaud where I’m staying.  It’s my favourite way to arrive.  Past all manner of sleek motor boats, one aptly named ‘one more toy’… Say’s …

Last night, TF1 News reported the results of the best beach in Europe poll, and the award goes to Plage Notre Dame in Porquerolles. This is a 45-minute walk from the tiny port on the island and so, apparently, is rarely busy. Special gardiens are responsible for maintaining the Explore …

Provence is a buffet for food lovers. There are markets every day of the week. Chefs find inspiration in seasonal fruit and vegetables, Mediterranean seafood, and free-range lamb. A suitable climate and good soil mean an array of locally produced almonds, cheese, wine, olives and olive oil. In the spring …

As we turn our thoughts to spring, some foods and wines come to mind immediately. On the food side of things, my mind turns to spring vegetables: asparagus, peas, and fava beans. For wine, I find it time to leave the wintry red wines for a while and focus on …

The first time that I tasted Château Léoube rosé was in California, not in Provence. It wasn’t that long ago that rosé wine was hard to find in the USA. Initially, it was often confused with white zinfandel, wine of a similar colour but not similar in any other way. …

Grab a transat (lounge chair) and settle for a great summer read complete with family dynamics, hot bodies, yachts, and a tour through Provence. Sunshine and Shadows at the Vineyard is the latest novel by Jane Dunning and here is our review. The Author Following a diverse career in advertising, …

Cannes-do Holidays When you think of Cannes, you probably think of the Film Festival, A-List celebrities, superyachts, private jets, sports cars and all the glamour enjoyed by the rich and famous which bears little resemblance to your family summer holidays, right? However, with a little planning, a family holiday in …