Relax in the Alpilles with a Massage Bien-être by Nancy

What could be more relaxing than a massage in the heart of the Parc naturel régional des Alpilles?

Nancy Gandon was born across the Rhône River from the Palais des Papes, in Villeneuve lez Avignon a village with this tagline “La Provence côté Languedoc.” The mighty river serves as the dividing line between the two departments (Provence and Languedoc-Roussillon).

After studying early child education (auxiliaire de puériculture) in Lyon, Nancy settled in Eygalières with her husband Pascale, in 1997. The appeal of Provence and their family enticed him to move from Paris in 1980.

Nancy tells me that she discovered Shiatsu massage in 2008 after many years of yoga practice and an active interest in natural medicine. She offers massages to clients in their homes, in hotels or at her studio: Massage Bien-être Shiatsu.

She also agreed to share a slice of her Perfectly Provence with readers:

Discover the Alpilles

• A walk in les Alpilles, near the pont Roman at the entrance of the chemin Romanin and the cave at the château Romanin.
• The village of Isle sur la Sorgue for the brocantes and the river. It is a classic Provencal town.
• Saintes Maries de la Mer a place we often go to with our two boys, it is a surprise to visitors, not the place you imagine as Provence. Nearby Beauduc is a broad, wild beach where you can camp out and share a drink with the gypsies.

Tastes of Provence

• Ratatouille (for recipes click here) – the Provencal classic with eggplant, zucchini and tomato.

Provençal Ratatouille Recipe

The traditional ratatouille recipe calls for vegetables to be browned in olive oil in a frying pan, each one separately, without peeling them at all. All the vegetables are cooked with their skins to preserve the maximum taste. Then, they are mixed and confit together in an earthenware casserole.

Check out this recipe

Ratatouille Tian Estival

This tian is easy to prepare. It can be served hot from the oven or at room temperature. This baked ratatouille casserole is a variation on the traditional Provencal recipe.

Check out this recipe

• Les Tellines – similar to a tiny clam, they thrive in the brackish water of the Camargue when the perfect water temperature conditions arise. If you find these little treats in your local market, scoop them up and cook with garlic and parsley. Tellines are delicious when served with a chilled Provencal rosé.

Relax in the Alpilles

• Enjoy a relaxing lunch in a simple restaurant with a beautiful terrace
• Hiking in les Alpilles
• Siesta at an ancient Mas in the hot summer afternoon

Image Credit: The beautiful Alpilles view from the house was provided by Nancy Gandon

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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott

With her camera and laptop close at hand, Carolyne has traded in her business suits for the world of freelance writing and blogging. Her first airplane ride at six months of age was her introduction to the exciting world of travel.

While in Provence, Carolyne can be found hiking with friends, riding the hills around the Alpilles or tackling Mont Ventoux. Her attachment to the region resonates in Perfectly Provence this digital magazine that she launched in 2014. This website is an opportunity to explore the best of the Mediterranean lifestyle (food & wine, places to stay, expat stories, books on the region, travel tips, real estate tips and more), through our contributors' articles.

Carolyne writes a food and travel blog Ginger and Nutmeg. Carolyne’s freelance articles can be found in Global Living Magazine, Avenue Magazine and City Palate (Published Travel Articles).