Lacoste Marquis de Sade
InspireOur House in ProvenceProvencal History & Traditions

Lacoste, from the Marquis de Sade to Pierre Cardin

Lacoste is a well-preserved village that sits on a mountain ridge with great views to the east across a valley filled with vineyards and orchards to Bonnieux and the Grand Luberon Mountains. At the top of the village are the ruins of the castle of the Marquis de Sade now …

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Ansouis Village Luberon Explore Provence
Our House in ProvenceRestaurant RecommendationsTaste

Visit Ansouis for Lunch at La Closerie Michelin Star Restaurant

It was October, and we were back in Sablet with friends Steve and Mary from Michigan. One of our morning rituals is to sit around the kitchen table drinking petit cafes and reading our iPads and English language papers. Invariably the question is asked, usually by Mary, “Michel, what’s the …

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Mirabeau Wine Give Away @MirabeauWine
Carolyne Kauser-AbbottTasteWines and Spirits of Provence

Mirabeau Wine Emerges from a Dream

Keep reading for details on a contest and giveaway! Media sources and reputable wine journals have published countless articles about “Team Cronk” a nickname often used for the Mirabeau Wine duo Stephen and Jeany Cronk. The wine industry is teeming with personal stories of joys and heartaches, tales that are …

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Laurianne @toctocMarseille
Carolyne Kauser-AbbottExploreGuided Holiday ToursLocals Travel Tips

Holiday Planning and Guided Tours in Marseille

As France’s second-largest city after Paris, Marseille appears overwhelming with well over 1 million people in the greater metropolitan area (1,831,500 January 2011 census). Marseille has been a port city since 600BC when the Greeks established a trading base in this location. Positioned on the Mediterranean Marseille has long been …

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Grimaud Castle #Grimaud #CotedAzur @DreamyProvence
ExploreMy Dreamy Provence

Grimaud my favourite village near the sea

Contributor blog post by Jill Cowdry: A favourite run by car in Provence is the twisty road sweeping through pine, oak and chestnut trees from the A8 (Aix to Cote D’azur highway) down the D558 to the sea. It’s a little heartstopping in places (if you don’t like heights) but …

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Hi Hotel Nice #Nice #CotedAzur #FrenchRiviera @DreamyProvence
Hotels Provence & Cote d'AzurMy Dreamy ProvenceStay: Accommodation & Rentals in Provence

Glamorous Nice and a funky little hotel

Contributor blog post by Jill Cowdry: All aboard…. time to jump on the TGV ..my favourite way to travel.   Aix to Nice close to the dreamiest of coastline.  Via Toulon then a brief diversion inland to vineyards near Draguignan, it meanders snake-like with great ease close to the coast. …

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Visit Arles Provence @LostinArles @HeatherRobinson
Carolyne Kauser-AbbottExploreLocals Travel Tips

Ask a Local: Why Visit Arles?

Much like her decision to follow a good looking French photographer to his native land. The couple were struck by a coup de coeur (love struck) when they spent one fateful night in Arles in 2003. You can read the full story in Heather’s blog post here. Whether you are …

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Provence Villages Saorge #Saorge @unxplorer
Rental & Self-Catered Properties in ProvenceStay: Accommodation & Rentals in ProvenceThe Unexplorer

Saorge: A Little Mountain Town with a Big Heart

After spending four weeks in a tiny town in Provence near Aix, my husband, son, and I decided for a change of scenery. We packed up our many, many suitcases into a clown car-sized Peugeot, and drove two hours northeast to the picturesque mountain town of Saorge. I’m willing to …

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Roasted Leg of Lamb @ProvenceCook Provence Recipes
LambMain CourseProvencal RecipesTaste

Paul Cezanne Inspired Recipe for Leg of Lamb

The climate in Provence is not well-suited to cattle farming, so sheep and goats have roamed the hills and pastures in the region for centuries. As a result, Provencal markets are filled with an endless selection of goat (chèvre) and sheep (brebis) cheeses, and you can always find lamb in …

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Fall bounty @CuriousProvence
Ashley TinkerMarkets in Provence and Cote d'AzurTaste

September Harvest

The mornings are crisp all of a sudden. The days are still hot. The harvest, of just about everything, is in full swing. I went for a walk and followed the smell of a skip full to the brim of grape skins before I stepped into the leaking juice running …

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