Seaside Villefranche-sur-Mer, with its sheltered harbour and long sweeping sandy beach, holds an enviable position on the French Riviera. Tucked between Nice to the west and Beaulieu-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean Cap Ferrat to the east, Villefranche feels like a small town. However, arriving in Villefranche by car takes a bit of …

After living in Provence for a few years and running holiday rental apartments in the heart of Apt, Jen and Chris Mallon continue their exploration of the region. They are wonderful hosts and always happy to help guests with ideas for sightseeing, avoiding the crowds, and some of their favourite …

Do you own a holiday rental property (apartment, self-catered cottage, villa, village house, boutique hotel) in Provence or the Côte d’Azur? This article summarises a presentation given to holiday rental owners in the South of France in January 2022. We hope that you find some nuggets of helpful information when …

Jen and Chris Mallon decided to move from England to Apt quickly. They decided in June 2018 and arrived in France that September. Leaving their jobs, selling a house, they headed through the channel tunnel to Provence. After four years in the Luberon, they are busy running Cent Cinq self-catered …

In 2018, Jen and Chris Mallon sold everything and moved from England to Apt in the South of France. It was a quick move. They decided to relocate in June and arrived in France at the end of September. They left their jobs, sold a house, put everything into storage …

Discovering Bonnieux Our family first visited Bonnieux during a week in Provence in early June 2003. We stayed in a nearby village and spent a few hours in Bonnieux one afternoon. The Luberon truly captivated all three of us. The following year we returned for a longer stay—six-and-a-half months—renting a …

Over the last few weeks, we have got a little bit further under the skin of the local area, and it’s taken us to some very different places, most recently on a guided tour of the Cathédrale Sainte Anne, in the heart of Apt, focusing on its medieval history. Each …

Antiques, art, waterwheels, and shopping are among the many reasons to visit the “Venice of Provence” – L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. The busy town on the Sorgue River was at one time a fishing village. Below are some ideas on spending a day in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue exploring the boutiques, galleries and taking in the …

Winter Festivals and Events in Provence What is winter like in Provence? It’s a good question. So, many images of the South of France are summer scenes; ribbons of blooming lavender fields, glasses of rosé with beads of condensation and beautiful people in enjoying their holidays. Perhaps wintertime in Provence garners less …

Jewel of the Alpilles Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (often written as St Rémy) is perhaps the ideal-sized town in the Alpilles. Plenty of tempting boutiques, chic hotels, a charming pedestrian-friendly centre and many restaurants exist. The largest city in the Alpilles, St Rémy, has roughly 9,800 people. Popular all year, St Rémy can …