When we first arrived in Provence, it was early October. That year delivered a relatively mild start to the month, and I honestly wasn’t focused on the flowers that came later. Cycling under sunny skies in the Camargue, we passed by rice fields that were being harvested and visited the …

The family reunion began in Paris, with ten (10) of us gathering for two nights. It was an intense program as the kids wanted to visit all the sights from Sacré Coeur to the Eiffel Tower and points in between. After three nights in the “City of Lights,” we took …

Like many traditional recipes considered part of Cuisine Nissarde, gratin de courge is a dish you might find just as easily on a restaurant menu as in a grandmother’s kitchen in Nice. The recipe calls for courage, which is butternut squash. You can use other varieties of pumpkin, but best …

The city of Arles is considered the gateway to the Camargue wetlands and Rhône River delta. It is the last major urban centre before leaving Provence’s southwestern boundary. In June 2021, LUMA Arles – an interdisciplinary creative campus – officially opened to the public in the former Parc des Ateliers. …

Festivals and Fall Events in Provence Fall in Provence directs you towards a heartier menu. Enjoy meat (lamb, wild boar, taureaux, rabbit, fowl) roasted with herbes de Provence, root vegetables and delicious red wine blends. At this time of year, the hiking is fabulous, biking is possible, and golfers might …

Perched on hilltops throughout the region, the castles of Provence are intriguing. These seemingly impenetrable fortresses have stone foundations and ramparts for defensive purposes. Reflective of turbulent periods in French history, many of the châteaux in southern France were built on summits maximising the ability to anticipate enemy approach. Today, …

Within the Parc Naturel Régional des Alpilles are several villages, each with a distinctive character. Authentic Alpilles Villages Below, we highlight a few towns that are not typically on visitors’ itineraries. These villages have as much history and charm as their popular neighbours. But perhaps with some additional authenticity as …

A slow-cooked meat stew, Grillade Saint-Gilloise, might be the perfect winter recipe. A hearty meat dish, this recipe typically includes beef or bull (taureau) chuck, onions, anchovy fillets, and capers. Sometimes called agrillade, aigriade, in Arles broufade, in Provencal broufado.  The key to this recipe is the long marinating time. …

Holiday Gift Guide It’s that time of year. The countdown is on for holiday shopping, and the thought of parking at a mall is frightening. Who needs it?! Discover our Holiday Gift Guide with products for the Home (table, kitchen and décor). We invite you to browse the selection of …

This fougasse recipe comes from the old fortified city of Aigues-Mortes in the Gard, a beautiful Southern France area. Often reserved for the holidays, enjoy this sweet, chewy bread all year-round.  Serve fougasse with other pastries or enjoy it on its own for a satisfying treat! Book a cooking class, …