le journal

Lavender: the emblem of Provence. It has a hypnotic pull for almost anyone. Standing in one of the countless fields of Provence is to be overcome by wonder.  We wanted to provide a guide to some of the best lavender...

Somehow, the striking village of Saignon has not yet made everyone's list for Provence...a quiet little gem in the Luberon. Saignon is built up onto an escarpment and the entire village feels like it has been woven into the rock...

Perched on a massive cliff in Provence in the charming village of Saignon, one finds the aptly-named restaurant Un Jardin sur le Toit (A garden on the roof).  The restaurant sits on the ruins of a 12th century castle -...

Provence is a wonder because it encompasses the southern Alps, towns like Avignon, Aix-en-Provence and Arles...and the sea! The Mediterranean is a beautiful part of the wonder of this region. Cassis ranks among the most charming of port villages along...

The village of Ménerbes, from the vineyards and orchards of the north, materializes above as if in perfect harmony with the mountain and rock itself. Lined with 16th and 17th century stone homes, the even older village ramparts look as...

Mrs. Harris goes to Paris A widowed cleaning lady in 1950s London falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress, and decides that she must have one of her own Now streaming on  (Amazon) Nothing to Hide During a...

The ritual of going to the market in Provence is one that never grows old. It is inspiring in the best ways: visually, the color palette shifts with the seasons; the backdrop of Aix-en-Provence (here) unfolds gracefully with the changing...

Among the verdant vineyards of Provence, art is grown...at Château La Coste. You've probably read about it as it has become an in-vogue spot in the region and articles are popping up left and right singing its praises. It isn't...

The villages of the Luberon in Provence are all beautiful...but Ansouis, particularly in the month of May, is divine. The village is weeping roses at the moment and exploring the little cobblestone streets and passageways makes on almost weep with...

There is a bit of Marseille - the furthest bit - where one feels as if she's come to the end of the earth. Technically, it's only the 8th arrondissement of Marseille (the 2nd biggest city in France), but Les...

Perhaps the most consecrated spot for antiquing in Provence is L'Isle sur la Sorgue (which means the island on the river Sorgue). The village is reputed for hosting 300 antique dealers, who set up shop here on the weekends, public...

The Luberon valley of Provence is a protected region of France and possesses a disproportionate share of “les plus beaux villages de France” (the most beautiful villages of France). Here the world shifts. The light sways more dramatically. The palette...

In one of the loveliest villages in Provence, Lourmarin, sits a little gem. Newly restored, re-envisioned, Le Moulin is a boutique hotel, restaurant, bar, café and shop - all in one. Le Moulin is perched beautifully in the center of...

La belle France delivers magic again and again. This time, it is at the sea. In France, a country that is bordered on much of its northern, western and southern borders by beautiful water, there is a path that follows...

Along the Côte d'Azur in the south of France sits Antibes, one of the most charming towns on this stretch of Mediterranean seaside. The French who live here are referred to as 'les Antibois' and can boast some of the...

The magical spell of the light of the south of France has captured many artists through time. Picasso was no exception. The Musée Picasso in Antibes, set on the coast of a majestic azure sea, is a tribute to a...

Spring is nigh...flowers are on our minds. The miracle of the blossoming fruit tree that, year after year, finds its way to tirelessly bloom again - is a reverie after long months of cold. We went into Aix-en-Provence today to...

“On ne peut pas acheter le bonheur. On peut cependant acheter du fromage, c’est presque pareil.”One cannot buy happiness. One can, however, buy cheese, which is nearly the same thing. Cheese! Is there anything better in this world? Very few...

Gordes sits as a sentinel for the Luberon valley. Built naturally into the cliff on which it rests, its strategic positioning extends all the way back in time to the Neolithic period. Gordes’ terraced stone homes seem haphazardly arranged, all buttressing the village château above.

When my French husband and I considered moving to Provence from New York City, the determining factor was the house we would find. We had toyed with the idea for a year, looking at properties while both working in Manhattan...

We took a trip to visit the ornate halls of Versailles this month. Roaming through the sumptuous rooms of the château is an entry into another empire, where all revolved around the king. There was no limit to the opulence and laudation in his honor.

In a small village in Provence exists a unique chocolate maker. Mathieu Taborcia is a man after quality. His is not a pursuit of sweet chocolate that sells quickly. His is an exigent process - from cocoa bean to the...

Nestled in the lovely Luberon valley of Provence sits Cucuron, a small Provençal village. About 1800 people live in this village and many more come to stay during the summer months. Cucuron is mentioned for the first time in 1004,...

La Pitchoune: Cooking in France Cooking students get an iconic experience in Julia Child's home in France. Now streaming on HBO, Magnolia Network Versailles King Louis XIV of France commissions a lavish palace that becomes a fierce battleground for love...

Even in the winter months in Aix-en-Provence, a tableau of colors unfurls in the town square of the town hall Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (and every day in the warmer months of the year). Early mornings bring the flower vendors....

A little town in Provence has become an art mecca: Arles. It is quite well-known that Van Gogh spent time in Arles - Gauguin, Picasso (with his passion for bull fights) and Réattu...Arles is also the site of a grand...

Christmas is a special moment on the Sainte-Baume mountain in Provence. The place has a mystical air as one climbs the stone steps through the thick forest up to the cave, where there is chapel and edifice, which sit precariously perched on the edge of a cliff facing a beautiful valley. It is hard to believe how the place was constructed, its position belies belief.

In Provence, France, there is a well-celebrated tradition: the 13 Desserts of Noël. Most families will feature this spread of desserts for the Christmas Day meal. The desserts include nuts, fruit, nougat, jams and, of course cake! One thing we...

In the Luberon region of Provence sits a charming village: Lourmarin. Despite its petite size, this village is packed with good shopping. Perfect for the holidays...come along with us to explore gift-giving opportunities.

December is always a festive month in Provence. Each village hosts its own illumination ceremony at the beginning if the month to commemorate the advent season. Lights are hung carefully in the weeks that precede the ceremony and until that moment remain unlit. When everything is finally lit, it is all illuminated at once. The wonder is everywhere.