It never gets easier to leave Provence, in fact, it might get harder each time. After several years of spending time in the region, it seems like my list of “must see and should do” just gets longer. Maybe it is because most days are highlighted by an endless sky. …

Traditionally the French Riviera, and Nice in particular, was a winter resort. It served as a destination for the upper echelons to escape harsh northern winters amongst their own. Today Nice in the winter is a largely local affair – which means less hustle, bustle and fewer crowds to contend …

Tell me there’s a brocante nearby and I’m there! If I start off another blog post with “one of my favorite things,” please excuse me. It’s just that it’s so hard for me to contain myself when describing some of the fun things to do in France. Like going to …

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: If Saturday is a day for the local market then Sunday has become a day to spend the morning pottering around a local Brocante market or village ‘Vide Greniers’ event. In the summer, we often found that we had to make a choice between …

With the prospect of shorter days, cooler nights and relaxed meals with friends and family, Nutmeg enlisted Martine Bertin-Peterson to design a Provence Harvest Menu. This three-course meal is a celebration of the colours and flavours of autumn with pears, squash, lamb and a sweet finish. Accomplished only begins to …

Contributor blog post by Vaucluse Dreamer: The first snow fell in the Vaucluse yesterday and Mont Ventoux started its shift from being a summer cycling venue to a winter ski resort, bringing with it thoughts of long walks across the hills that are so often out of bounds during the summer …

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 …

As the weather gets cooler, my go-to dinner is often a hearty soup and a winter salad. Sturdy vegetables available in the late fall and winter such as squash, root vegetables, broccoli and cauliflower often combined with dried legumes and mushrooms lend themselves to a slow simmer on the stove top. Making soup is a satisfying Sunday afternoon activity.

If you’re in Provence for the holiday season for the first time, you’ll notice that Christmas is not celebrated with the same gusto as in Northern parts of France or colder climates in general. However, there are some fantastic markets to get you into the mood for gorging on artisan …