Is Provence a good place to visit as a Ukrainian? You bet it is! What’s not to love about a region packed with good wine, fascinating history, ancient ruins, incredible scenery, art… You name it, Provence has it. From its idyllic Mediterranean beaches to the slopes of the Southern Alps, …

With non-essential travel to France restricted due to Covid-19, soulmates Catherine Karnow (National Geographic photographer) and Gilles Portaz (geography and history professor) spent a year apart. Finally, thanks to the “love visa,” a compassionate entry permit for non-married couples, they were reunited in Provence in November 2020. They got reacquainted …

Shelley and Riccardo are both Americans who have lived in Villefranche-sur-Mer for 21 years. They initially arrived in this charming seaside town to visit a friend, then returned for an extended stay and decided that they never wanted to leave the French Riviera. In 2004, they launched a holiday apartment …

Packing essentials for a trip to the South of France – cool shades, a straw hat, a bathing suit and a beach bag. What else do you need for a trip to the French Riviera? Perhaps a peek inside the address book of someone who lives there. Antibes Insider Visitor’s …

Painting in Provence Sometimes when you meet someone, it feels like you have known them forever, which was the case with Tessa Baker. Warm and welcoming, Tessa is a talented artist who runs small-group painting holidays and workshops in Provence, Italy and beyond. She had invited me to join her …

The South of France has long attracted artists and creative types who were inspired by the natural beauty. Vincent Van Gogh followed his dream to Arles. Paul Cézanne returned to his beloved Aix-en-Provence after time spent in Paris. Paul Gaughin accepted Van Gogh’s invitation to head south and participate in …

My name is Virginie Van Der Wees. I am a French teacher for non-French speakers. I live near Aix-en-Provence. Every morning, it’s a pleasure to wake up and tell myself that I live at the foot of the Sainte-Victoire mountain, 25 minutes from Aix-en-Provence. Je m’appelle Virginie Van Der Wees. …

France is full of enchanting villages, and among the approximately 30,000 communes, there are undoubtedly thousands of beautiful ones. However, officially there are exactly 159 Plus Beaux Villages de France – 159 most beautiful villages of all. But how can there be such a precise figure? Easy! This is not …

Carrières de Lumières, the former quarry now a centre for immersive art displays, has announced its theme for 2021, and it’s one that should prove popular with the Aixois. The 2021 show, at Les Baux de Provence, will be a celebration of the work of Paul Cezanne. This show’s design …

As Aixcentric followers will know, the 18th-century country house, Jas de Bouffan, which was home to the Cezanne family for 40 years, was closed over a year ago for renovation.  I went in for a visit on its last day of opening, and my goodness, it needed renovation: think cold, …