Susan Guillory does not let a little thing like a mountain range stand in her way. Shortly after returning from an adventure and self-admitted challenge of a lifetime – hiking in the Italian Dolomites – Susan published her first book “Searching for Peter Mayle’s Provence.” Guillory is a Perfectly Provence contributor, …

In October, the Provencal sun takes its time rising above the horizon, like an old dog mentally weighing the effort of its next move. In the Jabron Valley, at 600 meters, about 10 kilometres from Sisteron, autumn mornings can be particularly frosty with single-digit temperatures. However, the saffron harvest at …

A mixture of seawater, alkaline solution and fat Documented use as far back as 2800 BC in Ancient Babylon A carved “recipe” found on a stone slab from 2200 BC The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all used it Cooked for 8 days in a cauldron, dried for 2 days in …

France is a beautiful country, with so much to see and do. With plenty of delicacies and excellent cuisine to indulge in along with the fabulous wine that is produced in the country, as well as a huge selection of tourist destinations to explore, there is plenty to do on …

Contributor blog post by Nutmeg: The key to understanding Provence is to spend some quality time in historical villages such as Eygalières. The town is tiny compared to its neighbours, with a population of only 1830 (pop. census 2008). The village site as it is known today began to take shape …

Over 100,000 people (some estimates as high as 126,000) died in Provence between 1720 and 1722, including almost 50% of Marseille’s population some 46,000 inhabitants. All in the name of commerce. The Grand Saint-Antoine arrived in Marseille’s port on May 25, 1720, from Syria (previously Levan), the vessel was late, …

Minutes away from the Cote d’Azur shoreline, this tiny outcropping is a world away from the glitz and glamour of Saint-Tropez. Porquerolles is one of three islands that form the Îles d’Hyères Archipelago. Only a 10-minute ferry ride from terra firma this spit of land is only 7 km (4.3 miles) …

Occasionally, I get asked what do I enjoy the most about Perfectly Provence? Hands down it is the personal connections forged via this online community of contributors and readers. Some of my favourite moments (to date) include a lady’s lunch in Nice, exchanging recipes and wine pairing ideas with new …

What to do in the Var? Here, are a few not-to-be-missed sites: The Thoronet in the Var one of three Cistercian abbeys in Provence. L’Abbaye du Thoronet was classified as a French historical monument in 1840. Restoration work started the year after and still continues today. Also, worthwhile are the caves of Villecroze, carved into the side of …

Contributor blog post by Victoria Koning @MirabeauWine: The South of France is an adventurer’s paradise, with Cotignac being very well located. It’s pretty much an hour or two to any kind of activity you’d like to take part in; skiing in the Alps, water sports on the Mediterranean, hiking, climbing …