Personally, I have a love-hate relationship with the summer solstice. It is not my favourite day of the year when I know that despite weeks (hopefully) of hot weather ahead, the harsh reality is that the amount of daylight will continue to get shorter from here until mid-December. However, it …

This article was originally published in Global Living Magazine (December 2012), details and contact information have been updated. Historic Aix-en-Provence Magnetic Aix-en-Provence is one of the wealthier cities in France, with a long history of civilisation and an impressive roster of distinguished inhabitants. This city guide only begins to scratch the …

When perky artichokes announce the arrival of warmer weather, it is time to revisit Artichokes à la Barigoule a Provençal delight, rich, flavorful and complex. Fresh artichokes are usually available in local markets from spring through late summer. The garlic, carrots and fresh herbs give the dish its flavour. You can make this dish vegetarian by omitting the bacon.

Experience Provence as a Housesitter Recently I was fortunate enough to be invited to stay as a housesitter in a home of expats who had arrived in France some years ago. They now live in a delightful village in the Var, Haute Provence. The owners needed to return to the …

Dancing Under the Stars On a warm July evening, the setting sun kisses the Rhone Valley grapevines good-night as dancers perform in a 7000-seat Roman theatre. No, you are not dreaming. For 22 years, the Vaison Danses festival brings together international dancers to perform for audiences in the Vaucluse. This …

Ashley Tinker is the photographer behind the beautiful (and popular) Curious Provence Instagram feed, she is also the creator and writer of the blog by the same name. Originally from Montreal, Canada, Ashley headed to Florence, Italy for fine art school. You can probably guess that for someone who is …

Mention Provence as a destination to your friends, and most people have either been and want to return or are dreaming of their first visit. Gayle Padgett and her husband “flirted” with Provence for two decades, often travelling during their vacation time from US government jobs in Germany. As their …

The following article is a guest post by Juli James, a Canadian who has settled in the charming perched village of Saignon. Discover this part of the Luberon Valley from her comfortable vacation rental suites. La Maison des Arts Et Lettres has four (4) fully furnished, self-catering apartments. These flats are …

From the bright lights of one of the world’s biggest cities to a rural village in the South of France, Susana Iwase Hanson has plenty of experience with relocations. Tri-lingual (English, French and Japanese) and armed with diplomas in linguistics, and international business and marketing, she launched Provence Living in …

During spring months in Provence, it is common to find fresh white and green asparagus in local markets, and the perfect excuse to make a white asparagus gratin. In Germany, this particular season has a name: Spargelzeit. This phrase really just means “asparagus time”, but it sounds so poetic in German. …