By aixcentric Wowsers! What a great painting. I’ve never heard of James Cochran but can’t wait to get myself along to La Galerie Maison Dauphine to see this new expo, ‘Au Coeur de la Rue’. Tucked away in the Quartier Mazarin, this is an innovative gallery which has been bringing …

Happy, Healthy Holidays to all! It’s time to wish all our readers the best for this joyful season. However, before we head out on a technology break, we want to acknowledge all our terrific contributors and partners. As an Amazon Associate, the site earns from qualifying purchases. If you purchase …

Winter in Provence unveils a serene, understated beauty. The villages quiet down—tourists have departed, fields lie fallow, and root vegetables are tucked away in cool, shadowy cellars. The land rests after autumn’s final harvest while the frost-kissed garrigue glimmers in the winter light. Tendrils of smoke curl from chimneys as …

Wow is the word for Notre Dame de la Menour, 800m high in the wild mountains inland from the Riviera coast. It began as a Romanesque chapel linked to the defensive walls—you can see the nearby ruins. The chapel was rebuilt in the 17th century and oriented correctly to the …

David joined Virginie and her family for a French immersion homestay in July. He wanted to incorporate some sporty challenges while learning French so Virginie suggested hiking to the summit of Mont Sainte Victoire. David wrote the following bilingual text as an exercise to test his written French. Find out …

Are you shopping for book lovers? Here is our 2024 holiday gift guide for books from Provence for those on your list who love reading, travelling, and dreaming of France. These books are for anyone who wants a literary “dose” of Provence. 2024 Holiday Gift Guide Books Whether you have …

Winter Festivals and Events in Provence So many images of the Provence and the Côte d’Azur are summer scenes with ribbons of blooming lavender fields, glasses of rosé with beads of condensation, and beautiful people in straw hats enjoying their holidays. Perhaps wintertime in Provence garners less attention, but it’s …

In Provence, Christmas is a festive season lasting over two months with many holiday traditions. While there are commercial aspects to the holidays in Provence and the rest of France, many old customs continue today. At this time of year, there is vin chaud, little saints (santons), thirteen desserts, holiday …

Whether you are a keen skier, you probably recognize famous French ski resorts such as Val d’Isère, Courchevel, Chamonix, Méribel and Megève. It may surprise some people that besides lavender and rosé, Provence has several ski resorts readily accessible from major centres such as Aix-en-Provence, Marseille and Nice. So, if …

The Alpilles (miniature Alps) run from east to west for 30 kilometres, starting at the edge of the Durance River and the town of Orgon to the western edge near Fontvieille. Although the Alpilles are not high, with a maximum height of 498 metres, they are dramatic with jagged limestone …