Nothing Without Almonds Le Roy René factory needs some 200 metric tons of almonds annually for the production of calissons d’Aix and nougats. As almonds are one of the key ingredients in these typically Provencal sweets, a reliable supply chain is critical to the operation. In 2016, 300 almond trees, …

By Barefoot Blogger: When driving down the backroads of France near Uzés, it’s a common sight to ride alongside tall stone walls. You know these beautifully laid stones must conceal something amazing. Perhaps behind French garden walls, there’s a story to be told. Behind French Garden Walls Not too long …

Contributor blog post by David Taylor: Despite living here in Provence for over ten years we continue to make great discoveries! Château de Bourgane is on the road leading from Apt to Saint Saturnin Les Apt. The Chateau dates to 1775 and was probably one of the most important houses in …

Whether fiction or not, Nutmeg thinks it is appropriate that Casanova the infamous Venetian writer, gambler and reputed womanizer is weaved into the history of les Jardins d’Albertas. This garden, owned by the Albertas family, is located just a few minutes outside of Aix-en-Provence in the town of Bouc-Bel-Air, where the ancient …

On a hot July afternoon, Girl Gone Gallic and I set out to discover Provence’s pathways of abundance. The inspiration for the name of this property came from a book by French author and garden lover Adrienne Cazeilles. Les Sentiers de L’Abondance is the name of a unique garden located …

It rains a lot in Normandy. So, two residents of northern France to deciding to spend their retirement years in Provence would hardly be considered unusual. Sylvie and Pascal Verger were searching for a village house with a garden for their relocation from Honfleur. However, the trigger for their real …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: The ‘Festival des Jardins de la Cote d’Azur’ looks to be an interesting new venture. It runs every day from 1st April to 1st May in Nice, Cannes, Grasse, Antibes and Menton. There are two sections to this festival. The first will be 10 gardens specially …

It always happens less than one week after being back in Canada. Less than one week (sometimes less than one day) and I am dreaming about being back in Provence. Generally it’s because I go from summer to autumn/winter in a matter of moments. It’s always cold and dreary and …

This place is just gorgeous. It was the home of Pierre Salinger, President Kennedy’s press secretary and spokesman, and his fourth wife Poppy. He chose this 17th-century mill on the river Sorgue for retirement in 2000, having sworn that if George W Bush was elected president he would quit the …

In a green maze – that is how your journey starts. Wandering aimlessly through the hedge circuit your footsteps form the letters, as your shoulders rub against the thick shrubbery. The characters spell Bereishit the first word of the Torah, a Hebrew word that translates to “in the beginning of.” …