Bouches du Rhône Department Like other departments, the Bouches du Rhône combines large urban centres and unspoilt countryside. Visible traces of Roman history weave throughout the region, which is one of many reasons to visit Arles and its monuments. Beautiful Aix-en-Provence and seaside Marseille, the second-largest city in France after …

Sophie Claire just published her latest novel, An Escape To Provence. Her writing features uplifting emotional stories with their heart in Provence, where she spent her childhood summers. Half French, half Scottish, Sophie Claire was born in Africa and grew up in England. She felt she didn’t belong anywhere – …

Every summer, the Luberon village of La Roque d’Anthéron greets visitors worldwide for the International Piano Festival. In its 42nd year, the month-long festival starts in mid-July, and music lovers fill the stands at Château de Florans. For four decades, the acoustic stage, set under a leafy canopy of Plantanes …

Nice is a fascinating city on the beautiful French Riviera. Annexed to France from Italy in 1860, you can feel the French and Italian cultures combined, creating a unique local lifestyle. There are many reasons we love Nice, and here are our top ten. Book a Holiday Rental Near Nice …

While in Provence last fall, I began reading L’appart: The Delights and Disasters of Making My Paris Home. Why read about Paris ex-pat experiences while living in the South of France? I wanted to read this book for several reasons, starting with the fact that I love David Lebovitz’s culinary …

Cotignac is a small but lively village in the Var region with a rich and fascinating history that goes right back to medieval times. It is an ‘open village’ that already provides a colourful history, but for lovers of art, there is far more than meets the eye, as Cotignac …

Winter Festivals and Events in Provence What is winter like in Provence? It’s a good question. So, many images of the South of France are summer scenes; ribbons of blooming lavender fields, glasses of rosé with beads of condensation and beautiful people in enjoying their holidays. Perhaps wintertime in Provence garners less …

The Stunning Alpilles The landscape of the Alpilles is not exactly the land of milk and honey but rather a harsh alpine climate that supports the growth of grapes and olives. Known as the Alpilles (small Alps), this 30km band of jagged limestone cliffs and scrub brush is a protected …

Aix-en-Provence is a moderate-sized city in the Bouches du Rhône department of Provence. Home to Aix-Marseille Université (AMU) and several prestigious Lycées, the city has a dynamic vibe and a long history. Initially settled by the Romans in 122 BC, Aix is one of the most visited cities in Provence. …

We wanted another fixer-upper and that’s certainly what we bought! As I wrote this article this tractor was wreaking muddy havoc in our yard. Buying a house is Provence is relatively straight forward. However, you do sometimes hear horror stories. Robin recently had a client that overpaid twice the worth …