Before we moved to France I had read Peter Mayle’s account of his idyllic year in the Luberon region of Provence, and thoroughly enjoyed it. However, when planning our great escape from the grey-skied rat-race that is the City of London we never contemplated moving to the Luberon. Somehow it …

When we travel, we usually shun hotels. Sure, there’s a lot to be said about room service and having someone make your bed every day, but with the advent of Airbnb, HomeAway, and other vacation rental websites, we’ve opened our eyes to a new way to live like locals.  Why …

Jane Satow is many things, a wife, mother, good friend and private guide. You can read more about her company Provence Cultural Tours and two unique yoga retreats in Provence here. After ten years in France, Jane gets asked by clients and friends who are visiting to share her favourite …

My wife and I live part of the year in St-Rémy-de-Provence, and just south of us lies the charming village of Maussane-les-Alpilles. It sits at the foot of the Alpilles Mountains, near the famous château of Les Baux-de-Provence. The area is rich with olive groves and Maussane makes a nice …

Le Prieuré La Madelène Bed and Breakfast (B&B) is the site of a former 12th-century Benedictine monastery nestled just outside the village of Malaucène at the foot of Mont Ventoux. We asked the owners, Bruno and Olivier, for their restaurant recommendations for where to eat in Malaucène near le Prieuré …

Restaurant Worth the Detour Le Préau Restaurant is a hidden gem in the village of Rognes, just 19 km north of Aix-en-Provence. The restaurant is known for its inspired Mediterranean cuisine, which was influenced by the travels of chef/owner Antonin Wishart. I am fascinated by this restaurant because Chef Wishart …

The drive to Le Prieuré La Madelène Bed and Breakfast passes through Southern Rhône wine country and its famous villages. A pastoral landscape still surrounds what was once a 12th-century Benedictine priory. Fully renovated, this B&B is a quiet place to set aside your busy schedule and enjoy a Provencal …

Rosa Jackson was born in Canada, but she seems to have been destined for the South of France. Like most journeys in life, the road was not direct to Nice, France, where she lives now. However, her passion for food, culinary techniques and helping others to appreciate local cuisine led …

One of the life experiences I cherish the most is spending time along the Côte d’Azur. However, I must confess that I’m geographically challenged, so the more I visited, the more confused I became about something relatively straightforward. “Which seaside towns are below which hilltop villages?” To settle the question, …

One of my French students, Mary Katherine, wanted to visit the French Riviera during her immersion homestay in Provence. It was January, a lovely month to see the Côte d’Azur. It is not beach weather, but it is generally sunny and, with the proper layers, comfortable for touring around. Plus, …