Parisian art, architecture, and fashion have shaped the country. However, it might be surprising to learn how the customs of countries bordering the Mediterranean have impacted the South of France. The Spanish influence in Provence is undeniable, from paella to corridas and ferias (horse and bull) sporting events. Barcelona is …

Paris’s art, architecture, and fashion scenes have long influenced the rest of the country, including Provence. Ruby Boukabou, a passionate observer of Parisian art and architecture, has penned two indispensable books: The Art Lover’s Guide to Paris and The Architecture Lover’s Guide to Paris. These comprehensive guides, enriched with her …

The Beginner’s Guide to the French Riviera: Stop Dreaming & Start Packing, 2nd Edition by Mary Kay Seales The Second Edition to The Beginner’s Guide to the French Riviera, with updates on restaurants, hotels, and day trips from your base in Nice or Villefranche-sur-Mer, has everything you need to help …

The largest village in the Alpilles, St Rémy de Provence, has dangerously tempting boutiques, excellent restaurants, a dynamic Wednesday morning market, and even a movie theatre. Located at the base of the mountain range, St Rémy was the birthplace of Nostradamus (1503), and many of Vincent van Gogh’s canvases feature …

We recently met Keith and Val Van Sickle for a glass of rosé while we were all in Provence. They were in France for a short visit while Keith researched and completed final drafts for his latest (3rd) book, An Insider’s Guide to Provence. The Author Keith Van Sickle is …

Delighted to say that my book Aix-en-Provence The Inside Story is being re-issued, brought up to date and now in colour throughout.  It‘s eight (8) years since it was first published, and I believe I am right in saying that it’s still the only book to cover the story of …

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 …

Local Author and Guide Jean-Pierre Cassely is a recognizable public figure in Provence and beyond. Cassely worked for France 3 television for a decade and currently has a daily France-Bleu Provence radio slot called Provence Insolite (Unusual Provence). More recently, Jean-Pierre Cassely collected curious landmarks in two guidebooks Secret Provence and …

Travel Guides for Provence Remember when we carried around hefty paperbacks to guide our travels? In the 1980s, long before smartphones, tourists faithfully checked these guidebooks for reviews on hotels, restaurants and must-see sights. Backpackers conscious of space and weight often discarded the pages for a city or region once …

Mary Kay Seales calls the U.S. Pacific Northwest home. During much of the year, she works as both a freelance copywriter and as a writing professor, for international students, at the University of Washington, in Seattle. However, she has also lived and worked in a long list of diverse destinations …