Before we moved to France I had read Peter Mayle’s account of his idyllic year in the Luberon region of Provence, and thoroughly enjoyed it. However, when planning our great escape from the grey-skied rat-race that is the City of London we never contemplated moving to the Luberon. Somehow it …

We locals have been watching the ongoing work on the 300-year-old mansion, the Hotel Caumont, for two years as workmen repaired the roof, stonemasons worked on the ancient façade, and lorries drove in and out of the garden area. You can almost hear the clip-clop of the horses’ hooves maneuvering …

The thing I love about Provence is that it’s not Paris. What I mean is: Paris is obvious. There’s the Tour Eiffel, l’Arc de Triomphe, a whole slew of “must-see” tourist destinations. But Provence, on the other hand, still has a lot of hidden secrets that the average tourist is …

It must have been a bit of a letdown for Sarah Pernet, the founder of Discover Provence, to meet with travel guru Rick Steves one week and myself the next. It is obvious why Discover Provence (established 2012) is on Mr Steves’ radar, this young company has achieved the number …

Every June, there’s a must-visit exhibition in Aix from a talented local family – painter Jill Steenhuis, her sculptor husband Sergio Ruffato, plus their son Serge, also a sculptor. Jill paints in an impressionistic style and usually takes her inspiration from Aix, the Sainte-Victoire and the countryside around her lovely …

It has started – such treats in store for music-lovers. L’Antichambre du Festival, the prelude to the July Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, began June 9th. It’s a chance for locals to sample recitals, opera rehearsals and workshops – there will be 35 in all.

Your photos of market produce failed to capture the moment. Did the picture of your perfect soufflé fall flat? The ice cream melted in the bowl before you got back to your camera! Good news! There is now hope for your food photography bundled together with a glorious trip to …

The Provence Gourmet shares this wonderful side dish made with tomatoes and fresh herbs. Gilles uses Bruccio is a fresh goat cheese from the lovely island of Corsica, you can substitute with a ricotta if you cannot find this Corsican delicacy in your local stores.

Provence is divided by ranges of mountains running parallel to the sea and by the valleys which cut through these mountains, taking rivers to the sea. In historic times these valleys served as corridors of communication. The valley to the east of Aix is no exception as the medieval walled town …

We asked artist Jill Steenhuis to share her definition of Perfectly Provence. You can read more about Jill’s background, her connection with Cezanne’s Chateau Noir and her workshops. Explore Provence It depends on the person and their personal interests. It would be pointless to show someone Chateau Noir if they …