It has been almost two decades since Anne-Marie Simons and her husband Oscar decided to uproot their Washington, D.C. lifestyle and spend their retirement years in the South of France. They eliminated other alternatives (continents, countries and cities) and chose Aix-en-Provence for its “quality of life.” The city’s attractive combination …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: The 18th Phot’Aix is about to begin, both with a major exhibition and a trail which leads people around town from venue to venue. The major exhibition this year, Regards Croisés, features 5 contemporary Chinese and 5 French photographers working on similar themes: at the Cloitre …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: A Table magazine from ‘La Provence’ is a mine of information for those cooking and dining locally. This issue (Septembre-Octobre) spotlights bouillabaisse and prints recipes from various renowned chefs. I always like the section where they review new restaurants – there are 16 featured, among them: …

Returning to Provence’s Art de Vivre Frédéric Fekkai and Shirin von Wulffen are a power couple with great hair! They are also breathing new life into a beauty and lifestyle brand that epitomises the best of Provence – Bastide. Born in Provence, Fekkai’s career took him to the United States. …

With tourists heading to the Luberon this summer to see lavender fields, Roussillon is along the way with its equally vibrant colours of red, orange and pink. These stories, fact and fiction, about the multi-coloured town that inform and amuse those who venture there. The French commune of Roussillon is …

Welcome to our resource guide for the Markets of Provence and the Côte d’Azur. This article is a reference directory to some of the better-known markets, producers’ markets and a few more. It would be impossible to list every market in the region, and at the end of the day, …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: Sixty paintings by Alfred Sisley (1839-1899) went on show June 10th in Aix at the Caumont Centre d’Art’s summer show. The painter, was born to English parents in Paris, hasn’t been the subject of a retrospective since 2002. Forty per cent of this show includes paintings from private collections not …

It’s a toss-up between coquelicots (red poppies) and lavender, but probably no other scent or sight says Provence better than the pungent aroma of a purple field of lavender growing in mounded rows under a brilliant blue summer sky. We were lucky that it was the lavender season when we …

Before spending time in Provence, I had never heard of a buyer’s agent. To a North American with the benefits of a transparent residential real estate market, the concept seemed vague and excessive. In Canada, we have Multiple Listing Services (MLS) which serves two purposes; “Unilateral offer of compensation by a …

Nutmeg is self-admittedly not a patient person. She develops a plan, does not appreciate too much external input, and certainly is not thrilled when there is a proposed change. Living in France, with life at a slower pace, has helped with her natural inclination somewhat. Although, Ginger is certain that …