Brouillade de truffe

Brouillade de truffe, a scrummy egg and truffles kind of loose omolette come scrambled eggs, here cooked over the open fire at the Domaine de la Citadelle Christmas market. Lots of wine tasting to enjoy there too on a sunny Christmas afternoon in the Luberon.

Beautiful winter light

Captured on these beautiful plane trees near Cereste - perfect in the winter sunshine.

Le Géant de Provence

Mont Ventoux is a mythical mountain to the Provencals. From all around southern Provence it appears repeatedly on the horizon with its white peak beckoning tantalisingly in the distance. The mountain has inspired poets, writers, painters, photographers, climbers and cyclists with the ascent of the mountain on the Tour de France one of the most gruelling parts of the race.

The views from the summit are unsurpassed with one of the broadest panoramic views in Europe.  To the north the foothills of the Alps, to the west the Rhone valley and the Cevennes beyond, and to the south the plain of the Camargue and the Mediterranean.

 

Here with its bare limestone summit covered in a light covering of early winter snow.

 

 

New early summer direct train travel to Avignon and Aix

Eurostar is launching a new direct service from London to Avignon, Aix en Provence in May and June 2013.  In addition to the existing weekly direct summer service to Avignon this new service is perfect for an early summer getaway to Provence - tickets on sale from December 11.  Book your seats now!

Not all Christmas Trees are the same.

Apt Town Hall 2012

And now the olive harvest

Cold nights and sunshine days start to colour the olives and its time to pick.  Boxes of olives of all shades of green and black are collected together in the hoppers ready for the start of the press to produce that liquid green gold of fresh olive oil, ready for collecting from the mill just before Christmas.

Luberon vistas

Glorious views from the lovely old village of Menerbes in the Parc Naturel du Luberon.  Vines changing colours, the smell of woodsmoke, mist on the distant Vaucluse hills and the Luberon mountains, the perfect Autumn picture.

Blackboard says it all!

The beautiful Autumn continues in Provence

Lovely autumn colours and blue blue sky in the lovely old village of Menerbes.

Beautiful October

Misty mornings, warm sunny afternoons, last grapes on the vine as the harvest is safely gathered in - this really is a beautiful time of the year in Provence.

Motor Sport

Luberon style!

Enough said?

Ice cream delivery sir?

An enterprising ice cream seller touring the boats around the bay at Porquerolles in the Isles d'Or.  How could you not stop him and buy one!

Arrive in style!

Helicopter landing pad at the Domaine de la Coquillade

Autumn is upon us

And the Luberon looks dramatic

26c this afternoon but temperatures look to rise next week according to the forecast

Light Fantastic - Gargas

The local industry in real Provence is quite amazing sometimes

Mathieu Lustrerie

Feeling good with Dr Feelgood

Another fantastic Sonograf production, this time at the Chateau de Saumane

Le Sonograf programmation dates concerts

We are so lucky to have these guys - real Provence

Never got the shot!

Last night was our annual visit to the International Piano Festival at La Roque d'Antheron.  The concert started at 9 and we'd decided to have supper in the village at a local restaurant in the main street.

To set the scene, Roque d'Antheron isn't too formal but it is a very serious musical event with the best players in the world performing.  Imagine our hilarity when an hour before the performance a local tractor comes trundling along the street towing a very large trailer with grand piano on it obviously destined for the concert venue.  Things are different in real Provence.

As you can see this is not a small affair.  We think as many as 5000 attend each night

This was this years programme

Programme

Romance in Cereste

Interesting to speculate what romantic story lies behind this street sign for 'love nest' street in Cereste.

Shop. shop, shop

Its just a delight pottering around the shops in Provence for those perfect holiday gifts or something to take home as a great holiday souvenir.  Whether its local pottery, interestingly different lamps, or even a miniature olive tree, and of course there is always the excellent local wine.

Un des plus beaux villages de France

Roussillon is one of the officially nominated most beautiful villages in France, and its not difficult to see why.

Market day in Roussillon

Its Thursday morning and the crowds pack into the lively market in the pretty village of Roussillon.

Choose from the best honey in the Luberon, from nearby Murs

Beautiful natural soaps

Or a pretty enamelled sign - a great souvenir to take home

More pictures of a provencal summer

Superb choice of apricots on this market stall.  Irresistible.

And beautiful fresh garlic, perfect for creating your own provencal repast.

Pictures of a provencal summer

Sunday morning Coustellet market on a bright blue summer morning.  Which flowers shall we take home today?