This morning I hopped in the car and headed across to Forcalquier, a short distance from us in the neighbouring Department of Alpes-De-Haute-Provence. Monday is its market day and provides the perfect excuse for a visit (if such a thing is needed?). It is a lovely drive along the northern …

Contributor blog post by Vaucluse Dreamer: I always love Sundays in and around the Luberon, whether it’s an early morning start in the summer to head off bargain-hunting at the vide-grenier in a nearby village or a gentle cycle out for breakfast at the wonderful ‘Farmers’ Market’ at Coustellet. In …

I love exploring Provence in the winter. It’s quiet and you can linger in the streets of small towns to appreciate the little details such as potted plants adorably shoved onto windowsills. Or, the particular stunning shade of peach on a weather-beaten shutter. Provencal Weather in Winter: People often ask …

Tales of the French Resistance during World War II have an enduring appeal. The wooded paths and mountain plateaux in the Vaucluse made ideal terrain for the secret fight to liberate France, and clandestine airdrops of arms and agents by the British RAF are the stuff of legend around the …

Contributor blog post by Caroline Longstaffe: When ever I am feeling far away, yearning to be back in the Luberon in Provence, one of my solutions is to watch, yes for the hundredth time, ‘A Good Year.‘ Filmed minutes from Lourmarin, it perfectly encapsulates this stunning region; the alluring natural light, …

Some things just don’t change. Don’t you love it when you return to a place and it feels like nothing has skipped a beat while you were gone? Like le Petit Café located in the breathtaking Oppède-le-Vieux. The same white dog sitting on a spool in the centre of it …

When the lavender is harvested in Provence at the end of July, a heavenly scent is carried on warm evening breezes. Alerted by the first wafts of perfumed air, from our terrace we can sometimes see the smoke rising from the other side of a small ridge. The distillation has …

For the last few years, I’ve heard mention of le Fournil Restaurant in several gîte rental binders, and it had been on my list of restaurants to try. It did not disappoint! In fact, with each bite, we were asking, “How soon can we get back?” Le Fournil is located …

I always think it’s a shame that we don’t have the same approach to markets in England as they do in France. As I sit with my first coffee of the day and a ‘pain au chocolat’ in a cafe in Apt, the whole town is bustling, full of people …

Contributor blog post by Vaucluse Dreamer: Cycling around this area is a delight and even when it’s overcast (like today) it is a perfect way to spend a few hours. After an early wake-up I thought I’d hop on the bike & head across to the lovely Thursday market at L’Isle …