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 …

Winemaking as a second career? Stephen and Jeany Cronk packed up their life in the United Kingdom and moved to Provence with a dream to make a new style of rosé under their brand Mirabeau Wine. Lisa and Johann Pepin moved from corporate careers in Chicago to run les Pastras an agricultural operation …

There is nothing like wandering through a French market filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, cheese, bread, soap, honey, and so much more. It’s a lively place—the heart of France, the heart of the village. Today, I was meandering a French market in the stunning hilltop village of Bonnieux in …

If you follow what’s happening in Lourmarin, the charming village at the southern base of the Luberon where the Manfull family has been hanging their hats for many years, you’ve no doubt seen something about “Lourmarin, Lourmarin.” Have you wondered what “Lourmarin, Lourmarin” is? Earlier this year, it started popping …

The Village of Roussillon “Une Journée Très Colorée”… The village of Roussillon is a tiny village filled with cafés and galleries selling pottery, art, and souvenirs.  It is a quaint little village perched on top of hillside, painted hues of orange, yellow and reds to match the nearby ochre mines.  …

If you are in Provence and looking for something different to do—in between touring Roman ruins and visiting hilltop villages—I’ve got the answer: Kick off your shoes, climb into a huge oak barrel filled with grapes, and start stomping. That’s what Provence WineZine photographer Pamela O’Neill and I did earlier …

We almost bought a village house in Cucuron… How different life might have been! It’s a charming village, home to about 2000 villagers, on the south side of the Luberon, a short drive to Lourmarin and accessible to Aix en Provence. Tuesday is market day but we prefer when it’s …