How do you test a hotel’s 5-star rating? Forget about checking for dust on picture frames — deliver a thunderstorm in the middle of a meal service. L’Orangerie’s terrace was brimming with lunchtime customers enjoying their market-fresh plats du jour and local rosés when the typically far-reaching view of the Luberon vanished …

This Wednesday, April 15, L’Art Glacier reopens after its winter break. This restaurant, tucked away on a wooded hillside near Ansouis, is well worth seeking out. It has a fabulous terrace overlooking the Luberon, and its ice creams and sorbets must be the best ever! L’Art Glacier 767 Chemin des …

Luberon Villages Ansouis was a gift – 963 AD, and it still is! This village first appears in a written record in 963 AD, referring to Lambert de Reillane, who donated Ansoye lands to the Abbey of Saint-Pierre de Montmajour. This land in the Aigues valley belonged to his grandfather …

A Move to Provence? Why not? As you’ve heard, Americans are considering moving to France, and you, too, may be wondering, “Is this the time to make this dream a reality?” After all, Provence is the magical place where Marcel Pagnol (La Gloire de Mon Père, Le Château de Ma …

It’s one of the prettiest towns on France’s Mediterranean coast and one of the country’s sunniest. But while international tourists flock to places like Nice, Antibes, and St-Tropez, lovely little Sanary-sur-Mer remains relatively undiscovered. Sanary, as the locals call it, was founded as a fishing village in the 16th century. …

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 …

Is there something in the Provencal air, in the water, or is it in the earth? Provence’s ceramics industry is a vibrant and integral part of the region’s cultural and economic landscape. It blends traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation, contributing significantly to local heritage and the economy. Below, we explore …

When students join me in Provence for a French immersion stay, I want to make sure that they improve their language skills and also get a chance to visit the region. Below are a few excursions from Aix-en-Provence that I have taken with students during their visits. Some of these …

Below is our visitor’s guide to help you discover some of Provence’s ceramics and pottery artists. The page is organized alphabetically by department within the region. We have included the artists we know and some galleries and museums worth visiting. Please feel free to send us any suggestions so we …

Lavender blooms for a relatively short time in Provence. Like any plant, the exact peak flowering time depends on several factors, including weather and altitude. Generally, the lavender fields in the South of France peak in early July and are harvested by mid-August. Many people plan their trips specifically to …