le journal

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.

All the Provence markets are a feast for the eyes and belly, but the market at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is perhaps at the very top of the list of those not to miss. Saint-Rémy is constructed in such a way that the heart of the village is pedestrian and protected, making it a perfect space for a grand market. The market begins early in the morning and unfurls until after lunchtime.

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is a gem of Provence and one of the oldest villages in France. It is encompassed by field after field of olive groves, many properly ancient trees. The Alpilles mountain range prevails nearby and sets the tone for the magic of the area.

Come with us to get a glimpse into the process of natural indigo dyeing in Provence, France. Laetitia Costechareyre has made it her life’s work to become steeped in the very ancient tradition of indigo dyeing, which dates all the way back to 2000 BC. Laetitia’s work is completely natural and uses no synthetic or toxic dyes. Her start comes from true indigo, the indigofera tinctoria plant.

We wanted to share a beautiful and classic recipe from France. In the fall months, an apple tart is an impressive looking dessert that will delight guests at dinner parties and throughout the holiday season. This recipe is surprisingly simple to prepare and bake.

Couleur Nature takes us to four of the best spots in Provence to buy bread and pâtisseries. Make sure to include these spots on your itinerary when visiting the region: ✨ 1. Haut Les Pins | Lauris, France 2. Maison...

If you love antiques, you know Provence is a polestar for that world. Every quarter there are major shows for buyers in Avignon, Montpellier and others, not to mention the treasure trove that can always be found in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. This...

Château de Beaupré is a majestic property near Aix-en-Provence of 325 acres of rolling hills covered in vines. The property features an 18th century Bastide with a natural spring. The wine cave is found in a rustic farmhouse on the...

One of the most incredible monuments in Provence is hidden among the wilds of the cliffs of the Luberon. The Fort de Buoux is a remarkable, expansive site that was inhabited from protohistory to the 18th century. It features troglodyte...

A visit to Aix-en-Provence commands a visit to Paul Cézanne’s studio. It was here, from 1901-1906, that Cézanne’s feverish devotion to the region manifested in full force. It was here that he lived his final days, painting obsessively, to the...

The Plateau d’Albion sits high in the Luberon and evokes a different feeling than the rest of the territory (all magnificent, all blessed). We ventured there with the drone to shoot some of the lavender, which is grown at higher...

The most-visited lavender fields in Provence are found on the Plateau de Valensole, a magical mesa of boundless rows of purple haze. It is undeniably gorgeous. Not much further away, however, lies a more untouched and magical patch of earth...

The lavender of Provence has a hypnotic pull for almost anyone. Standing in one of the countless fields of Provence is to be overcome by wonder - all senses at once. A good accompaniment for any visit to the fields...

Provence, as a region, is the steward of many beautiful gardens. Many wine domains and former grand châteaux and estates invite visitors today to absorb their lovely grounds, often offering wine tastings or a seat at a table for a...

Picture a summer evening in Provence, here, at Château de la Gaude. This is a place that takes one’s breath away. The light falls gently on the sweet vines and plants, growing up the old facade of the domain. The...

A field filled with poppies evokes wonder…it is hard to believe. Living in Provence gives a special vantage point from which to watch this magic unfold. At the beginning of May, it begins. At first, it is just a spattering...

Some of the sweetest moments in Provence can be found at the market. Especially a village market where one comes to know the vendors at most of the stands and the transaction is not a transaction at all, but rather...