Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: The tourists sitting in the sun outside cafés in the Place aux Huiles and the Cours Estienne d’Orves probably don’t realise that they are perched above an ancient system of canals that dates back at least to Roman times. I am indebted to the website …

Perfectly Provence is the name of this website; it is also a community of over 40 contributors each of whom has a personal connection to the region. The list includes expats who have chosen to make the South of France their home: Phoebe Thomas who writes about travel with kids, …

During one of my first jobs here in France, one of my colleagues challenged me to learn these French tongue twisters. I found this crumpled piece of paper in a pile of forgotten souvenirs under the bed the other day. I was compelled to go through the papers as my …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: The ‘Festival des Jardins de la Cote d’Azur’ looks to be an interesting new venture. It runs every day from 1st April to 1st May in Nice, Cannes, Grasse, Antibes and Menton. There are two sections to this festival. The first will be 10 gardens specially …

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 …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: The beginning of March sees the opening of new shows in Arles and also over at the Carrières de Lumières at Les Baux. Starting with the Fondation Van Gogh, it is a pleasure to see that they will have 8 of his paintings on show, …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: Musée Regards de Provence in Marseille is a delightful gallery celebrates local artists who are very often new to me and so a visit is quite an adventure of discovery. The latest expo is dedicated to designer, painter and sculptor Quirin Mayer (1927 – ) …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: If you haven’t visited Saint-Maximin, this Sunday (29th January) is an excellent time to do so as it is the Fete de la Saint Vincent, when the local vignerons celebrate their patron saint. Sixty-five of them will gather to thank their saint for the last harvest …

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 …