At the top of the dreamy village of Ménerbes within a 17th-century mansion is la Maison de la Truffe et du Vin de Luberon. Year after year, upon visiting this village, we would peer curiously through the iron gate of la Maison de la Truffe into the most beautiful, intimate garden …

It’s raining today in Provence and after nearly a month of clear, blue skies and gentle, warm autumnal days, temperatures have plummeted signalling the beginnings of winter. Nowhere, even Lourmarin, is idyllic in the rain, or is it? Perhaps enticed by the recently hung lights across the streets of the village …

Occasionally it’s time to say goodbye to a house. Even if it is one that you built yourselves and where all four (yes 4!) of your children grew-up. Recently, I was hiking with Agathe Forest of Live & Love Provence in the Alpilles. She shared that their family home was on the market so …

I told you in a previous post that “A Good Year” starring Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard is my favourite American/British-made movie set in the South of France. The film is directed by Ridley Scott, who lives in the Luberon and is based on a Peter Mayle novel. The movie …

Hiking in the Luberon A sprinkling of rain the night before had almost foiled our perfect “meet-in-the-middle” plan. Agathe the creative face behind the beautiful blog “Live Love Provence” (here, is her profile) suggested that the Gorges de Régalon hike was located at about the halfway point for each of …

The Gift of a Town Perched on a hillside with its back to the Mistral wind, Ansouis is a gem of a village in the Luberon that definitely earns its status as one of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. With its tiny laneways, houses built into ancient ramparts, …

Hungry during the afternoon when restaurants and grocery stores are closed in Provence? Then head up to Chez Auzet at the top of Ménerbes for the most delicious quiche for just five euros! If you want to splurge, you can spend seven euros and get a salad with your quiche. …

Plenty of villages in the Luberon Valley lay claim to les plus beaux villages de France (the most beautiful villages in France), and many of those proudly display Villages Fleuris (flowering villages) emblems on local street signs. Enchanted by weather-worn scenes of charming hilltop hamlets and gently numbed by a glass of …

Diving into Provence Ten years after Peter Mayle’s book “A Year in Provence” was published, Georgina Causton and her partner decided to spend a sabbatical year (1999) in Provence. Completely enchanted by the lifestyle in the South of France they never returned to live in London. Suddenly, they found themselves …

We enjoyed another fine meal at La Bartavelle in Goult. Their prix-fixe menu gives a choice of three starters including local seasonal asparagus, in the spring. Whilst main courses included a fish choice (wild Turbot), Beef or Rabbit which I had, and it was superb, (see picture). …Continue reading here …