Provence, known for its scorching summers, may not seem ideal for ice production. Yet, between 1650 and 1885, many ice houses (glacières) were ingeniously constructed in the region. This historical innovation, born out of necessity, is a testament to the resourcefulness and some royal assistance. Ice Production Provence’s Glacières In …

According to information from the Mairie in Aix-en-Provence, the long-running saga of this 18th-century square might be resolved soon. The ‘travaux’ should begin quickly and will last nine months. The square dates back to 1745 when the d’Albertas family, who lived in the large building opposite what was then a …

Close to Forcalquier, the artistic centre of the Alpes de Haute Provence is a truly remarkable historic site in the village of Mane. The Salagon priory and its gardens with over 1,700 plants. The day we visited was a blinding, hot July day when not as much as an ant …

Once a private residence to the east of Beaulieu-sur-Mer and near Villefranche-sur-Mer, the Villa Kérylos sits prominently on a rocky outcrop with a panoramic visit. Kérylos is a Greek word for a kingfisher bird and an omen of good luck. Villa Kérylos History Théodore Reinach commissioned the construction of a …

Cosquer Mediterranée recreates the prehistoric cave paintings which exist 35 metres below sea level near Marseille in an underwater labyrinth investigated by speleologist Henri Cosquer. Of course, 20,000 years ago, the cave-dwellers could wander in and out of these dwellings where they drew the wildlife of their habitat: sea animals, …

First published in 2013, Aix-en-Provence The Inside Story was updated and reprinted in colour in 2021. In this book, author Lynne Alderson shares the history of this attractive city and its colourful inhabitants. The Author Lynne Alderson studied English Language and Literature at Edinburgh University. Her career encompassed journalism and …

We went to Avignon so Shirley could shop, so I took the opportunity to walk around and see what was new or different after our long absence. One of the first things I noticed, this was the first time in a long time that the Opera – Theater of Avignon …

After 18 years in Aix, I only realized that it’s actually someone’s job to clamber up narrow staircases and reach across the void inside the Tour de l’Horloge to manoeuvre the four (4) statues around every 3 months when the season changes. It’s down to (or should we say up …

An Ancient Greek Colony Long before the Romans conquered Gaul (France), the Greeks established a series of colonies along its Mediterranean coast. Marseille, the oldest city in France, was once the Greek colony of Massilia. It, in turn, established smaller colonies in the area around it. One of these was …

Contributor blog post by Access Riviera: The French Riviera has some amazing old buildings ranging from palace hotels along the Croisette in Cannes, to Belle Époque mansions in Cap Ferrat and Art Deco apartments lining the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. For a while now, I’ve been intending to look …