The residents of Nîmes (Nîmois) are incredibly proud of their Roman heritage. The Maison Carrée is renowned for being one of the most remarkably well-preserved Roman monuments, alongside Rome’s Pantheon. Renovated in 1992 and designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2023, it has gained even greater fame and visibility. …

Ridiculously, we have passed through Nîmes many times over the years but have never been into the city to visit any of the Roman sites there, so it was the perfect opportunity to tick this off the list, especially as he’s passionate about history, too. So, on Sunday afternoon, we …

Cavaillon is a good-sized city east of the Durance River in Provence with a deep history linked to local agriculture. Most visitors drive straight through Cavaillon on their way to the Luberon’s perched villages and Vaucluse towns, vineyards, and lavender fields without stopping, which is a shame. Cavaillon has lots …

Not much has changed since the Roman era in Nîmes – fabulous monuments and good food remain central to the city’s fabric. In 1840, la Maison Carrée, a beautifully restored Roman temple, was listed as a French historic monument, and as of September 18, 2023, it is now on the …

Visible traces of Roman history weave throughout Provence, which is one of many reasons to visit the region. Below we highlight five (5) top places for evidence of the Roman era. #1 Roman Aix-en-Provence The Romans understood the need for freshwater for a settlement to thrive and survive. So, Entremont, …

Immortalized in Dante’s Inferno, Alyscamps, one of the most famous historical burial grounds outside of Rome, is a short walk from the centre of Arles in the southwestern corner of Provence. The day my tour group visited, there was no one else there except a few stray cats, and the …

A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to do a pop-up event with my jewellery in the cellar of our friends’ newly restored townhouse and apartments in the centre of Apt Cent Cinq. I say cellar, but this was the most beautiful, vaulted stone room, set below the …

Near the town of Beaucaire is something unique in the world. Built on the site of a Roman villa, it is a faithful reconstruction of a Roman winery. Visitors learn how winemaking was done when Rome ruled the world. There is a chance to sample wines that have been made …

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 …

I discovered some interesting information online about a dig that has been progressing at Trinquetaille, on the opposite bank of the Rhône River (from Arles). Underneath an 18th-century glassworks, now a ‘monument historique,’ they have uncovered a group of Roman houses, many with mosaic floors.  The fresco in the illustration …