We asked Lynne Alderson of Aixcentric if she would share her favourite cafés and salon de thés in Aix-en-Provence with Perfectly Provence readers. Lynne said no problem, other than narrowing her choices to three – now that was hard! Here, are Lynne’s top picks for a beverage and a light …

It was hardly a race back to Europe. Anne-Marie Simons moved to the United States (US) in the fall of 1966, for one year. And, stayed for 32 more. From her birthplace of Maastricht (the Netherlands), Anne-Marie’s studies in French language and culture took her to Paris and then to …

Aix must be a paradise for archaeologists: building work in town often yields ancient foundations and sewers, but sometimes sumptuous Roman mosaic dining room floors, everyday pottery and glass from the table, and even jewellery, oil lamps and statues. They dated from around 2000 years ago when Aix was the …

Spring comes early in Provence with flowering almond trees flowering in January and February. The tiny pink and white blossoms are a sure sign that the seasons are changing in the south of France.  Enjoy the photos shared by My Dreamy Provence of the almond trees in flower in the …

By aixcentric Lots of the restaurants in town now have boards outside their premises showing their menus for Saturday night. The Tourist Office have put some of them online with links so you can email for a reservation if you see one you fancy: Aix-en-Provence Tourism There is also a …

Abbie Spencer would tell you that in her family photographs were treasures, and maybe that is why she has ended up in the industry. She would also say that travel and meeting people are her inspiration and crystallizing those moments in images is her mission. She describes the weather in …

Author Patricia Sands has distinct memories of Provence from her days as a backpacker in 1967. She told me that she and a friend were travelling around on Eurail passes and meeting new friends as they camped and hiked the sentiers of Provence and the Côte d’Azur. Those joyful images …

Jill Steenhuis is an American artist who has lived just outside of Aix-en-Provence for 30 years. Jill paints en plein air (outside) the way Cezanne did much of his work. Inspired by this master painter and one of very few artists with access to Château Noir Jill agreed to share …

By late November, the Christmas markets in Provence are in full swing. Individual cabanas decorated with festive trimmings line the Cours Mirabeau in Aix-en-Provence. In a short walk, you can buy some gingerbread (pain d’épices) to go with your foie gras, stock up on a few santons for your crèche …

Dutch-born Anne-Marie Simons is a traveller. She studied in Paris, worked in Brussels and then moved to the United States where for a long time she worked only to support her travel-bug. Today, Anne-Marie and her husband Oscar reside in Aix-en-Provence where she continues to hone her writing. The following …