“Even one night at this place is an unforgettable experience.” – Mary Kay Seales after her stay at this luxury property, in Provence, with her two sisters. Just a bit north of Aix-en-Provence near the tiny medieval village of Lauris is the stylish and architecturally perfect Domaine de Fontenille, on the …

Contributor blog post by Ashley Tinker: Last Saturday Robin and I took a guided tour of Aix en Provence with Frédéric Paul. A Tour Guide Local with Passion for Sharing History A rising television star and truly passionate about history, Frédéric aims to share insights into the history of his …

There is a permanent installation by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei at Chateau La Coste. It’s entitled Ruyi Path after the ceremonial sceptre that symbolizes power and good fortune in Chinese history. The artist has followed the shape of the sceptre for a new pathway that weaves between the forest trees …

Contributor blog post by Ashley Tinker: I came across this document in a pile of papers in a French flea market. It’s dated 1896. I find details like this really indicative of their time and culture. For example, the imagery of a military hat, canon, soldiers, rifle, and sword are most …

Last time, I told you about Provence’s first Renaissance château, the Lourmarin Château and promised that next time, we would peek inside. Here, you will find a fascinating, sometimes quite surprising, eclectic collection of treasures, thanks to the legacy of its last private owner, Robert Laurent Vibert, and The Lourmarin …

Perfectly Provence is the name of this website; it is also a community of over 40 contributors each of whom has a personal connection to the region. The list includes expats who have chosen to make the South of France their home: Phoebe Thomas who writes about travel with kids, …

Contributor blog post by Ashley Tinker: During one of my first jobs here in France, one of my colleagues challenged me to learn these French tongue twisters. I found this crumpled piece of paper in a pile of forgotten souvenirs under the bed the other day. I was compelled to …

It’s Academy Award season, and as it was with me a year ago when I wrote of Marcel Pagnol, I am drawn back to Provence, in fact to his hometown of Aubagne. On this occasion it began last fall when I was discussing with my wife Benedicte, who is French, …

It took 20 visits to Provence before Keith Van Sickle and his wife decided to make the region their part-time home. A Northern California native, Van Sickle spent his early years on an island in the San Francisco Bay – Alameda, California. “It’s a sleepy town, an oasis of 1950’s …

Provence Gourmet This autumn, I was lucky to be able to participate in one of Gilles Conchy’s cooking classes in Aix en Provence. Gilles leads English cooking classes in Aix en Provence, Eygalières, and Marseille. Each class focuses on Provençal cooking, with particular regard for the different traditions of the …