Luberon Villages Ansouis was a gift – 963 AD, and it still is! This village first appears in a written record in 963 AD, referring to Lambert de Reillane, who donated Ansoye lands to the Abbey of Saint-Pierre de Montmajour. This land in the Aigues valley belonged to his grandfather …

By aixcentric I had no idea France has a Tree of the Year competition…and am delighted to introduce the winning tree from Provence, a 33 metre-tall, 5 centuries old tilleul or lime-tree which grows on a farm near Banon. It is on the archaeologically-rich site of an ancient oppidum, an …

By aixcentric How well do you know Provence? Would you like to try a new activity locally? Do you need some inspiration for visiting friends and family? If so, the annual ‘Bienvenue Chez Vous’ could help. Over 200 organisations are offering one free entry or experience for every paid Explore …

By aixcentric …or rats de bibliotheque as the French say. Two events to mark on your calendars, both at Book In Bar. Jane Austen’s ‘Northanger Abbey’ is the subject of the English Book Club this month and there is still time to read it! Catherine Morland, the heroine, is invited …

By aixcentric When a message popped into the Aixcentric mail-box saying that a new boutique of frozen yoghurts had opened in town and that, on opening the door, ‘you will be instantly transported to the beaches of California’, of course I had to investigate. And frozen yoghurt not being a …

By aixcentric Continuing on my quest to see the photos in the Phot’Aix programme, I decided to stop wandering up side streets and concentrate my efforts on the Cours Mirabeau while shopping. The Hotel des Augustins has about 8 small dark photos in a dark reception area (venue 18)… could …

By aixcentric The annual Phot’Aix programme is now underway: it is showcasing the work of 41 photographers in 28 different locations around town. In principle, this is a great way to highlight new work and also to encourage people into shops, the cinema, restaurants to see it. Unfortunately my attempt …

The Citroën 2CV or Deux Chevaux continues to be iconic in France. In summer months, you can often see a few cruising the smaller roads of Provence. The 2CV was produced from 1948 to 1990.  During those 42-years of production over 3.8 million cars were produced, but relatively few exist today.

By aixcentric The Fete du Livre this year has a globally famous writer appearing on 17, 18 and 19th October: Mario Vargas Llosa will be discussing his 2003 novel ‘Un Peu Plus Loin’ or ‘The Way to Paradise’. This is a historical double biography of Post-Impressionist painter Paul Gauguin and …

By aixcentric ‘Eclats’…translates as glitter, sparkle, brilliance, radiance, and so a good name for this unusual photographic exhibition by a Puyricard-based group. It’s unusual because they have taken the works of Cézanne and used them as a starting point for abstract photos: for instance, they have isolated the brush-strokes making …