Contributor blog post by Laura: Have you ever heard of the broken dam of Malpasset near Fréjus? I hadn’t before I went there, but it is quite an impressive site. The area of the ‘Site de Malpasset’ is a beautiful, natural site, but which unfortunately has a sad history. On …

Vincent Van Gogh Meets Provence Born in the Netherlands in 1853, Vincent Van Gogh started his painting in his twenties. Among his works were several themes, like self-portraits, landscapes, still life competitions, and plant paintings such as sunflowers and cypress trees. During these early times, most people did not appreciate …

Many traditional recipes for pesto include basil leaves, this variation from Danielle Jouval at Domaine Saint Jacques calls for fresh roquette. Arugula (roquette) pesto is bright and slightly peppery, it is an excellent condiment for a sandwich, barbequed meat or drizzled on the top of a tomato salad.

Oh, the rosé wine! The delectable wine with a refined and light taste! The perfect one to swirl in with your tongue along with robust food! Whether you plan on having it alone or with food, you will fall in love with the taste. Once you come out of the …

No, it’s not a revival of the 1990s TV series with Mr Big. Originally from Lima, Peru, Marita Lynn has lived in the United States for 27 years. This summer she is changing things up a lot! Aix-en-Provence will be the base for Chef Marita Lynn cooking classes and catering …

The Foundation Carmignac opened to the public on June 1st. This display of modern art is in a vast (1500 sqm) gallery inside a Provencal villa on the beautiful island of Porquerolles. Financier Edouard Carmignac has put the collection together. It includes works from the American Pop Art School, including …

“The Allure of Provence and its Wines” was previously published in Culinaire Magazine (June 2016). This updated article includes additional reading, travel tips, and details on wine colour production and terminology. Mention Provence to a friend and they likely have a mental image that involves cobalt skies, cicadas and lavender …

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 …

Artistic Menerbes Once you have visited the hilltop village of Menerbes, it is easy to understand why the Luberon and this town has enchanted so many. The charming main street compels you to pause and wander through an art gallery, or have a drink at one of the restaurants, particularly …

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 …