Nîmes Roman History Highlights Arena and Nimes Musée de la Romanité
Carolyne Kauser-AbbottInspireProvencal History & Traditions

Reasons to Visit Nîmes UNESCO Sites and Roman Inspired Sandwich

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 …

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Roman Barge Arles Museum Antiquity
Carolyne Kauser-AbbottInspireProvencal History & Traditions

5 Places to Find Roman History in Provence

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, …

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Alyscamps Roman Burial Arles
ExploreSue AranVillages Towns and Cities

Alyscamps the Roman Burial in Arles is a Must-See

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 …

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Aix-en-Provence The Inside Story Cover
Books on ProvenceCarolyne Kauser-AbbottInspire

Book Review: Aix-en-Provence The Inside Story

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 …

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Roman Traces Apt was Apta Julia
ExploreJulie WhitmarshVillages Towns and Cities

Apt was once Apta Julia the Roman City

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 …

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Mas des Tourelles Roman Wines Bacchus public domain
Keith Van SickleTasteWines and Spirits of Provence

Mas des Tourelles Wines How to Drink Like a Roman

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 …

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Olbia Lost Mediterranean City
InspireKeith Van SickleProvencal History & Traditions

Olbia a Lost Mediterranean City and its Mysterious Port

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 …

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Masion de la Harpiste Roman Fresco ©Remi Benali
AixcentricInspireProvencal History & Traditions

Discovering Arles the Museums and Roman Sites

I discovered some interesting information online about a dig that has been progressing on the opposite bank of the Rhône River (from Arles), at Trinquetaille. 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 …

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Nîmes Roman History Highlights Arena and Nimes Musée de la Romanité
ExploreKeith Van SickleRoad Trips South of France

A Road Trip to Nîmes for Roman History Highlights

Nîmes Road Trip Just west of Provence, across the mighty Rhône River, lays the Gard department of France. The Gard and Provence share a deep Roman history, from the days when both were part of the Roman region of Gallia. Because it is so close to Provence, a visit to …

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Pont du Gard Kayaking Provence @PerfProvence
Barefoot BloggerExploreProvencal History & Traditions

Pont du Gard, France: Is it Architecture or Art?

Visiting monuments isn’t on the top of my sightseeing list; however I heard that Pont du Gard was a “must.” It is reportedly one of the most visited sites in France but, not until I saw it myself would I know why. It literally took my breath away. There, hiding out in …

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