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 …

The Christmas Kalends of Provence, by Thomas Allibone Janvier, was first published in 1902 and republished many times since. The edition I am using is a facsimile published by Bibliobazaar, 2007, Charleston, South Carolina. Reviewed by Mary-Jane Deeb A few years ago my publisher, Paraclete Press, gave me a small …

A satisfying and delicious bowl of comfort while at the same time not being heavy. The refreshing tomato and fish broth highlight the delicious levels of flavour from the capers, olives, fresh spinach and chile flakes with the seafood taking center stage.

Contributor blog post by Michel: If you have been to Cassis, you won’t be surprised to know that it’s one of our favorite towns in Provence. Happily, it only takes 1 hour and half to drive from Sablet to Cassis. The picturesque town is tucked into a stunning location along …

In October, the Provencal sun takes its time rising above the horizon, like an old dog mentally weighing the effort of its next move. In the Jabron Valley, at 600 meters, about 10 kilometres from Sisteron, autumn mornings can be particularly frosty with single-digit temperatures. However, the saffron harvest at …

France is a beautiful country, with so much to see and do. With plenty of delicacies and excellent cuisine to indulge in along with the fabulous wine that is produced in the country, as well as a huge selection of tourist destinations to explore, there is plenty to do on …

After a long stretch of scorching summer days, cooler autumn weather in Provence offers a chance to serve warm, hearty meals. Fall mornings wrapped in a cloth of humidity with heavy dew and fog clouding the early hours until the sun does its work. With the hard work finished for …

Over 100,000 people (some estimates as high as 126,000) died in Provence between 1720 and 1722, including almost 50% of Marseille’s population some 46,000 inhabitants. All in the name of commerce. The Grand Saint-Antoine arrived in Marseille’s port on May 25, 1720, from Syria (previously Levan), the vessel was late, …

Frédéric Paul is the founder of Le Visible est Invisible, a company that offers guided tours in Aix en Provence and the region. What he hopes to demonstrate to clients during the walking tours is that the history of Provence is in your face, but you need to be ready …

Provence claims thirty-two different winds, but the mistral, that strong, cold wind that roars down the Rhone Valley from Lyon to Marseille, is master of them all. The very name “mistral” means masterly in the Provençal language, and according to local expressions, it can blow the tail off a donkey, …