It’s Academy Award season, and as it was with me a year ago when I wrote of Marcel Pagnol, I am drawn back to Provence, in fact to his hometown of Aubagne. On this occasion it began last fall when I was discussing with my wife Benedicte, who is French, …

It took 20 visits to Provence before Keith Van Sickle and his wife decided to make the region their part-time home. A Northern California native, Van Sickle spent his early years on an island in the San Francisco Bay – Alameda, California. “It’s a sleepy town, an oasis of 1950’s …

Provence Gourmet This autumn, I was lucky to be able to participate in one of Gilles Conchy’s cooking classes in Aix en Provence. Gilles leads English cooking classes in Aix en Provence, Eygalières, and Marseille. Each class focuses on Provençal cooking, with particular regard for the different traditions of the …

Car companies and investors are spending billions in their attempts to place first in the electric vehicle battle – Elon Musk’s race is on. Maybe that was on his mind when entrepreneur David Lainé exited from Marseille’s St. Charles station one morning back in the summer of 2011 and noticed …

Contributor blog post by Ashley Tinker: I can’t speak for the entirety of France but if you’re looking for expats in Provence here are a few suggestions. When I first moved to France I had it in my head that I would only meet French people. I soon learned that …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: If only the authors of guide books who drool over Provencal markets with such glowing, romantic prose could witness the scene today! The few brave traders in the cours Mirabeau were packing up by 11, such was the wind; but this unlucky one didn’t strike camp …

Contributor blog post by Jill @My Dreamy Provence: It’s always a joy to stumble across something different! I used to lunch at a cool little restaurant in the centre of Aix en Provence full of vintage furniture serving delicious organic soups, salads and tarts. It was my favourite place; a little …

Contributor blog post by Margo Lestz: Aix-en-Provence, the City of a Thousand Fountains Aix-en-Provence is known as the city of 1,000 fountains. However, since the folks of this area have a reputation for exaggeration, we should probably take that with a grain of salt. The real number might be closer to …

Bilingual guide Emily Durand and the owner of Your Private Provence is running a holiday tour in Provence from December 16-22, 2016. This “Christmas market and truffle tour” is a small group tour for a maximum of eight (8) guests. You can view the full itinerary here. Why would you want to sign up …

Cinq à sept is a Quebecois term for cocktail hour. The term is not generally used in France, but I find it a delightful turn of phrase, which literally refers to the hours between five and seven pm. A time to unwind after work and enjoy a drink with friends …