When imagining Provence, perhaps you think of three-star Michelin restaurants serving snails with white truffles, paired with decades-old Bandol rosé. Sure thing, but regular French people also live in Provence and don’t have that much money to spare on a meal. Smart tourists will follow the local’s lead and can …

While Calissons d’Aix are a Provencal holiday treat —they are one of the thirteen traditional desserts served at Epiphany — I tried my first on a beautiful summer’s day in Aix-en-Provence. Candy is certainly not the only reason to visit Provence, but for this sweet treat, Aix marks the spot.

Artichokes à la Barigoule might be on the menu, I could hardly wait for the day to arrive. This classic Provencal dish includes artichokes, salted pork, onions and white wine. What’s not to love about that combination?

Gayle Padgett and her husband Ralph maintained a long-distance relationship with Provence for two decades. They often travelled to the South of France during their vacation from US government jobs in Germany. As their retirement years approached, the “Where are we going to live?” question loomed. The couple chose a …

An hour from glamourous St. Tropez on the French Riviera, and about the same distance from the chic city of art and water Aix-en-Provence, Lorgues sits in the heart of the Var. There are many reasons to visit Lorgues, but freshly, roasted coffee was not one of them until recently. …

Travel and Literature: two passions that usually go hand in hand! After all, surprising stories are what we look for in books and the most diverse scenarios in the world. One of the most inspiring places in this context is Provence. Lavender fields, mountain inland villages, historic cities, nature parks, …

Essential Lavender The lavender industry in Provence is a significant economic driver impacting agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, and retail. There are 2,000 producers and roughly 25,000 people employed in the industry. The main growing areas are the four (4) departments the Drôme, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes, Vaucluse, with some small production in the …

Every summer, the Luberon village of La Roque d’Anthéron greets visitors from around the world for the International Piano Festival. The month-long Festival starts in mid-July, and music lovers fill the stands at Château de Florans. For four decades, the acoustical stage, set under a leafy canopy of Plantanes (Plane …

Although it’s entirely possible to find trees growing in the wild, almonds are cultivated in Provence. This recipe for Salted Almond Praline Cake is a basic cake mix with a crunchy sweet topping. I know that I promised not to make another almond dessert, but who could resist this delicious …

A decade after the publication of Peter Mayle’s A Year in Provence, Georgina Causton and her partner took a sabbatical year in Provence. Instead of returning to London, they bought three properties creating luxury rental villas that they call Paradis en Provence. Luxury Holiday Villas Situated in the heart of …