Bell Tower Hotel de Ville Aix-en-Provence #AixenProvence @PerfectlyProvence
AixcentricInspireProvencal History & Traditions

The Seasons of Tour de l’Horloge in Aix-en-Provence

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 …

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Parchments Archives Antibes History
InspireJemma - French LessonsProvencal History & Traditions

The Archives in Antibes for a Look at History

It’s unlikely that a trip to the municipal archives in Antibes would be on many (or any) visitor’s to-do list. However, for me, the chance to see parchments dating from the 1300s was irresistible. When four parchments appeared in a British auction house two months ago, the city of Antibes …

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Nice's Cathedral Russian France
InspireKeith Van SickleProvencal History & Traditions

Nice’s Cathedral the Most Russian Spot in France

There are so many fun things to do in Nice—you can walk along the Promenade des Anglais, enjoy the view from one of those famous blue chairs, and dig into a salade niçoise at a café in the Old Town. Now here’s one to add to your list: visit the …

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Molinari sardine Two Famous Marseille Expressions
InspireKeith Van SickleProvencal History & Traditions

Two Famous Marseille Expressions

“C’est la sardine qui a bouché le port de Marseille!” (A sardine blocked Marseille’s port!) This local saying is famous throughout France. Another that is less well-known is “Chercher Molinari” (look for Molinari). Both expressions, curiously, come from the same famous disaster that took place in the 18th century. The …

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Jean Moulin French Resistance
Carolyne Kauser-AbbottInspireProvencal History & Traditions

Who Was Jean Moulin French Resistance Leader?

World War II France Jean Moulin is not a familiar name to those, like myself, who only took basic history courses in school. Our overview of World War II never mentioned this wartime hero. Once we began spending time in the Alpilles and noticed the Route Jean Moulin road signs, …

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Walking Tour Fountains Aix Jean Malte
Carolyne Kauser-AbbottExploreVillages Towns and Cities

Take a Walking Tour the Fountains of Aix-en-Provence

Fountains and Roman Baths Aix-en-Provence is known as the City of Water. Settled in 122 BC by the Romans who found natural springs, they called the city Aquae Sextiae after one of their important consuls Sextius Calvinus. The “Waters of Sextius” provided the population with water (both hot and cold) …

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Le Train Bleu Paris
ExploreJ. Christina

Le Train Bleu Paris the French Riviera Connection

Luxury Travel French Riviera During the height of the Jazz Age, the wealthy and affluent made the French Riviera their playground along with resort towns on the Mediterranean coastline. Their sojourn would begin at Paris’s Gare de Lyon train station, where the luxury night train, Le Train Bleu, wound its …

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Bories Stone Provence Gordes
Books on ProvenceGuest PostInspire

Bories the Stone Heart of Provence

The following is a chapter on the stone Bories of Provence is adapted from Mary-Lou Weisman’s book, Playing House in Provence: How Two Americans Became a Little Bit French. The Weismans arrived in Provence in September 2003 for the first of many visits to the South of France. The couple …

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Provence Legends Tarasque Monster Tarascon
ExploreMargo LestzVillages Towns and Cities

Tarascon Fêtes de la Tarasque Festival for the Fun of It

Fêtes de la Tarasque Don’t miss this quirky Provencal festival. There are dragons in the streets and much more to entertain all ages. We were preparing to leave Nice and fly back to London. And, just out of curiosity, I had a peek at what was going on in Provence. …

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Filming the toasting scene on the Petit Crau St Rémy History Lessons
ExploreGayle PadgettVillages Towns and Cities

Learning About St Rémy History Lessons

My French TV Debut When a producer from the France Canal 3 called me up to ask if I would participate—as the expat writer—in a segment of the travel show Chroniques Méditerranéennes (show details below) with Nathalie Simon, I was ecstatic. A French TV show planning to feature St. Rémy …

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