Contributor blog post by Ashley Tinker: Persimmon or ‘Kaki’ fruit. These are beautiful fruit that are meant to be picked after all the leaves have fallen off the tree. When I asked my local greengrocer what to do with them – she picked one up in front of me and …

Contributor blog post by Access Riviera: France is famous for producing some of the best food in the world, whether you prefer the tables of haute cuisine where the top chefs are national celebrities, or the no-nonsense traditional dishes served up in bistros across the country. The cooking is as …

Contributor blog post by Ashley Tinker: The bull running, local village fêtes, pastis and rosé drinking aren’t slowing down just yet. Here is my selection of the many events going on this month primarily in the Bouches du Rhône region of Provence. As you can see, I’ve favoured village festivities …

Contributor blog post by Vaucluse Dreamer: I can’t help it – I’m a sucker for a local Festival in France – so you can imagine I was delighted when, on a planned bike ride last week, we arrived in Saint Didier and noticed a sign for the Fig Festival taking …

Contributor blog post by Ashley Tinker: This is most certainly the busiest month here in Provence while at the same time – oddly very calm as well. All the Northern French head to the sea and sun, as indicated by the stressful traffic reports radiating out of Paris, for a …

Contributor blog post by Access Riviera: I really enjoy all the traditional festivals in France and it doesn’t matter when you visit the French Riviera you will always find some type of celebration or traditional event to attend. Traditional festivals here are based on historical re-enactments, patron saints, food (including …

By Deborah Bine What better way to welcome in summer in Uzes than with music all around town? June 21st was the Fête de la musique à Uzès with music ranging from flamenco guitar to folk music, to rock. Stages were set up on street corner and plazas throughout the …

The Côte d’Azur and its surrounding countryside, in fact the whole of the département of the Alpes-Maritimes, is covered in historic fortified hill villages; some well known, others hidden and secret. There are literally hundreds and many of them have an annual festival of some sort celebrating their artisanal or …

Bless the Italians who seem to be rushing to the French Riviera at the end of May every year. In brief,  a chance to stroll along the Promenade des Anglais (the eastern side),  and be accosted with as many delights from the spectrum of Italian cuisine – as you can …

What is the celebration of spring in Nice la Fête des Mais? Phoebe has the answer. On the 1st of May and then every Sunday throughout the month, Nice celebrates the arrival of spring.  This custom dates back to Roman times when a “Mai” (a large pine tree felled in …