I honestly cannot believe that it's been 14 years living here in Provence. My family and I moved to our little perched hilltop village just outside of Aix-en-Provence from San Francisco, in search of a slower life for our growing bilingual boys. It's true what they say, and yes, I did indeed leave a bit of my heart in San Francisco; it's a city I will always adore, but it came time to ...
The Luberon is one of the most romantic, breath-taking regions of Provence. Discover colorful markets set in "platane" tree-lined squares, elegantly perched hilltop villages surrounded by fields of lavender, dotted with dancing sunflowers and vineyards as far as the eye can see. Strolling along the streets of these sleepy, old stone villages with their perfect patinas on the off-season, is like stepping back in time...in a glorious way. Peter Mayle's best-selling 'A Year ...
It took me a few years of living here to finally discover this incredible gem of an island in Provence... and have hesitated to post to preserve its secrets, but alas, this wild beauty will not stay guarded from foreign visitors for too long. And with the recent addition of a world-class art museum, this tiny island hideaway off the coast of Hyères, is quickly becoming a local's Mediterranean hotspot. The island of ...
Arles is truly experiencing a renaissance. The first, visual clue is the presence of famed architect, Frank Gehry's latest metal-clad museum masterpiece, LUMA Arles. Luma Arles is a grand project driven by art patron and cultural maven, Maja Hoffman, the mastermind re-shaping the city's landscape, culture and art scene of this ancient roman city of Provence. I felt the exciting energy everywhere, from the construction sites throughout the city, to the local artisan ateliers ...
We are often asked of our favorite swimming escapes and beach recommendations, so we're sharing our top spots and hidden gems for a glorious day spent at the the finest beaches of Provence. We've also included our favorite off-the-beaten path spots for a seaside lunch to make your daytrip escape complete... cherry on top.Newly updated with our most recent discoveries, now is the ideal time to head to the beach and enjoy the ...
Cassis is a slice of seaside dreams, a true Provence treasure. Situated along the Mediterranean Sea, Cassis is home to the characteristic Massif de Calanques, the highest cliffs in France, stunningly dressed in white limestone. These deep inlets shelter the terraced vineyards of Cassis, which are truly distinct from their Provençal neighbors.Established as an Appellation d'Origine Protégée (AOP) in 1936, Cassis was one of the first in the region. The village of ...
I must share one of my favorite, local wine domaines to take visiting friends and family just outside of Aix-en-Provence. The domaine is located directly on the Cengle, in a very dramatic setting nearly at the top of the majestic Sainte Victoire of Provence. Perched upon one of the most breathtaking natural sites in the region at 550 m altitude and down roughly 17 kilometers of bumpy gravel roads, you will find Domaine ...
Arguably, one of the most photogenic regions of France begins its bloom each year in May bearing fields of powder periwinkle blooming irises throughout the Trets' and Fuveau-area landscapes, right where I live. Passing through the region in bloom feels as if thousands of delicate butterflies were displaying their colors as they rest gently upon fields of brilliant green. These fields are complimented by the picturesque outlines of the Sainte-Victoire, Mount Aurélien ...
There is a spot of mystique and natural beauty that must be experienced to be understood: the Provençal wine region of Les Baux-de-Provence Appellation d'origine controlee (AOP).The Alpilles Mountains run a ridge through the north-western corner of the Bouches du Rhône department of Provence. Alpilles means little Alps, but visitors to the area are moved by the largess of the wildly rugged, authentic and mysterious setting. It’s here that a small group ...
I grabbed a friend and off we went to the Plateau de Valensole to capture the magic of lavender season in full-swing in Provence. This is a must-visit experience for locals and visitors alike. Truly Luxe Provence! The fields are generally in bloom from the end of June to mid-July, depending on the season, prior to being cut for production. The Plateau de Valensole is located in the Haute-Provence in the Parc Naturel ...
It's that special moment in Haute Provence that everyone dreams. Having had a warm winter this year, the lavender has already started to bloom a few weeks. A most magical sight to behold and a must-visit experience. THE place to view lavender fields in their full glory is definitely the Haute Provence region's famed, Plateau de Valensole. Each year, starting from mid- to late-June through most of July, this plateau of 800 km in altitude pops to brilliant life with unbelievable ...
Of course, there's nothing I enjoy more than a beautiful weekend escape in Provence, especially with a group of gorgeous girlfriends. There are so many stunning and distinctly charming micro-regions in Provence that it is a surprise to many who visit, and even live here. Most recently, we covered highlights from Les Alpilles region of Provence. This time, I share a glimpse further north to the Luberon between Roussillon and the Colorado de Rustrel, part of ...
Despite living in Provence for over four years now, I never grow tired of exploring and rediscovering the many, authentic and beautiful regions this area has to offer. Inspired by my return visit to the Les Carrières de Lumière last week for the Chagall Opening, I decided it was due time for a new feature on discovering the "Les Alpilles" region. I have since learned there's quite a lot happening at the moment, from ...
After welcoming over 513,000 visitors for Michelangelo, Leonardo de Vinci and Raphael: The Giants of the Renaissance, the Les Carrières de Lumières in Baux-de-Provence prepares to launch their next ambitious artistic project devoted solely to Marc Chagall (1887 - 1985). The Chagall exhibit marks the first time a Les Carrières installation is devoted to only one artist and is set to begin March 4, 2016 continuing through January 8, 2017. This is a must-see for visitors and locals alike. Les ...
In a little corner of paradise at Chateau Barbebelle, Rognes there lives a man called Alex who hunts for truffles every year. His humble, rustic house and gardens have been lovingly restored and made beautiful, right down to the gorgeous hand made tiles in his kitchen. The garden is dominated by a giant pig called Jeffrey. Jeffrey is six years old and his first five winters were spent sniffing out truffles and uncovering ...
Every winter, I plan to set out on the Route du Mimosa to take in the gorgeous winter color that pops along the trail into the coastline of the Var. I am doing it this year, who wants to join? It sounds like the time is now and once there's a pop of sun back on the agenda, I am hopping in the car to not only take in the mimosas, but ...