One of my favourite things is going to the farmers market on Sunday morning with the menu set for the week and my shopping list in hand. There is a sense of purpose, of complete control. That is until I see the beautiful baby eggplants next to the perfectly ripe …

Provence’s Luberon Valley is one of the most beautiful spots in France. It is chock-full of restaurants serving excellent food, and I love the ones where my wife and I can enjoy a nice view along with our meals. Here are five of our favourite restaurants; booking in advance is …

This is a reference guide, a list of the Markets of Provence and the Côte d’Azur, and additional travel tips. Below is a regional directory for daily markets by department (Alpes Maritimes, Bouches du Rhône, Luberon, Vaucluse, and Var) within Provence. We will add details for Alpes de Haute Provence …

The artists and artisans of Forcalquier celebrate their 10th anniversary! From July 28 through 31, dozens of creators and galleries of the association Les Ateliers will open their doors throughout the town, providing an opportunity to discover work that is as diverse as it is captivating. In addition, the Ateliers …

What’s On in the South of France? During the summer in Provence and the Côte d’Azur, daytime temperatures range from warm to hot. So, you don’t need an excuse to laze by the pool. The lavender is in bloom this time of year, and the sunflowers put on a spectacular …

Provence’s Roseraie de Gérenton has 300 Rose Varieties! Cultivating any garden takes time, patience, and lots of challenging work. In early 2015, Sylvie and John Brun bought a property near Bédoin in the Vaucluse. Although the property was previously an agricultural plot about 50 years ago, the old grapevines and …

The Essence of Provence: the Story of L’Occitane, by Pierre Magnan, translated from the original French L’Occitane: une histoire vraie, Denoël, Paris, France, 2001, by Richard Seaver, Arcade Publishing, New York, 2nd edition, 2012. Book Review by Mary-Jane Deeb About the Author Pierre Magnan (1922-2012) was a prolific French writer …

The Luberon region in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region of southern France is known for its picturesque villages and stunning natural beauty. These nine (9) villages are considered must-sees in the Luberon Valley. Book a Luberon Village Tour Ansouis You’ll find the village of Ansouis tucked inside the Parc naturel regional …

Very rarely do you come across a Côtes du Rhône Villages so incredible that it might as well be a Gigondas wine. However, in this case, the red wine that we used in this wine pairing from Paul Jaboulet Aîné (2020) is a nice upgrade. It is big and bold, …

A Sea of Sheep I pressed my back tight against the stone facade of the ancient house on the narrow street where I stood. Around me were dozens of other people doing the same. How, I wondered, was that huge mass of sheep barreling toward us going to fit through? …