Vaison La Romaine This excerpt is taken from my French Travel Book THYME for PROVENCE Our first stop on our travels by car into Provence from the north, our entrance to the sun, has nearly always been the town of Vaison la Romaine. It is for that reason a location that is important to usContinue reading “Vaison La Romaine – Ancient Rome in Provence”
Category Archives: Provence Travel
St Paul de Vence a beautiful French perched village
St Paul de Vence is felt by many to be the loveliest of the perched villages in the south of France. Perhaps, but I do love Bonnieux! St Paul de Vence, an attractive, compact village became a magnet for artists and art lovers in the 1920’s, when a group of impressionist painters rediscovered this sleeping neglected village.Continue reading “St Paul de Vence a beautiful French perched village”
Lavender in Provence – Where to find the best views
I appreciate that there are many people for whom a visit to Provence must be made in the lavender season as it is crucial to their experience of the region. My wife Niamh is one of those people. Our old friend the village of Banon is a good starting point for a lavender tour. Around the village are some magnificent lavender fields and a climb to the church at the top of the village will reveal them in all their stupendous glory. If you briefly go out of the village on the D950 in the direction of Forcalquier you can turn off to go down one of the minor roads on your left, experiencing driving as if through a lavender field. There are some glorious photo opportunities. After that you can then go back through Banon and take the D950 in the opposite direction to Revest du Bion
Waiting for lunch in a quiet moment in Mougins France
Waiting for lunch customers at a lovely French cafe. An atmospheric scene in a quiet street in Mougins France. Mougins is close to the perfume town of Grasse. The small village boasts several fine restaurants and is a lovely relaxing place to enjoy a long lunch and sleep it of by the fountain in theContinue reading “Waiting for lunch in a quiet moment in Mougins France”
Impressions of Provence a Landcape for my French Travel Books
A lovely watercolour artwork from an original idea by my book illustrator – so looking forward to being back in this landscape. I do love to mix up my illustrations in my French travel books with photography and some original artwork. I think an artists impression allows your imagination to take you into the sceneContinue reading “Impressions of Provence a Landcape for my French Travel Books”
Lavender Fields at their best in a Provencal Summer
Travellers have their own favourite areas of Provence where they appreciate the vast fields of lavender. For me the finest spot is close to Banon. In fact anywhere around that village whether you head towards Forqualquier, as in this shot, or north of the village back across towards the famous area around Sault, you willContinue reading “Lavender Fields at their best in a Provencal Summer”
Tommy Simpson and our Ascent of Mont Ventoux
From early on in my life I have always had a fascination about the career and death of the British cyclist Tommy Simpson. In my youth I was a keen cyclist, but I never cycled competitively. I had one of those ‘Can you remember where you were when JFK was shot?’ moments in 1967 when Simpson died that July day during the Tour de France on his ascent of Mt Ventoux. I do remember exactly where I was when Kennedy died. I was in a fish and chip shop in Darwen, Lancashire – my hometown. I clearly remember my parents and everyone around being very shocked.
Tommy Simpson and our Ascent of Mont Ventoux
From early on in my life I have always had a fascination about the career and death of the British cyclist Tommy Simpson. In my youth I was a keen cyclist, but I never cycled competitively. I had one of those ‘Can you remember where you were when JFK was shot?’ moments in 1967 when Simpson died that July day during the Tour de France on his ascent of Mt Ventoux. I do remember exactly where I was when Kennedy died. I was in a fish and chip shop in Darwen, Lancashire – my hometown. I clearly remember my parents and everyone around being very shocked.
Lavender Fields at their best in a Provencal Summer
Travellers have their own favourite areas of Provence where they appreciate the vast fields of lavender. For me the finest spot is close to Banon. In fact anywhere around that village whether you head towards Forqualquier, as in this shot, or north of the village back across towards the famous area around Sault, you willContinue reading “Lavender Fields at their best in a Provencal Summer”
French Travel Books - Paris, Provence & French Food & Wine 