And now the vines

Beautiful reds, golds and oranges at the Domaine de la Verriere in the Parc Naturel du Luberon.

Golds of Autumn everywhere

Here a host of plane trees make a cathedral of gold on the road towards St. Remy in the Alpilles. What a picture.

Colours of Autumn

After a beautiful warm Indian summer in Provence, a sudden drop in then night time temperature has brought out the very best of the Autumn colours in the trees. Superb plane tree at the Domaine de la Verriere in the Luberon

Memories

In different locations, often in the remotest places are to be found these descriptions of events during the Second World War. Resistance fighting took place all over Provence and the Chemins de la Memoire with their moving accounts of local battles, sometimes with loss of live, give us a real insight into the events of the time.

The red ochre of Roussillon

The beautiful ochre cliffs in Roussillon in the Luberon in the late afternoon sun. Stunning colours. No wonder this lovely spot attracts so many visitors each year to this charming provencal village.

Art art art

The village of Lacoste and the open day of the Savannah College of Art's annual exhibition. Art in all shapes and sizes.

Music music music

Another one of Provence's must do events, the international piano festival at La Roque D'Antheron has just come to a close.  This lovely setting is home to some superb concerts on the open air stage. What could be better than to be here listening to music on a summer's evening.

More unexpected sights

One of the superb series of portraits from the Walther Collection at the Espace Van Gogh in Arles. Just one of the many fascinating exhibitions which are part of this superb photography event held every year in July and August. A 'must see' event of the provencal summer.

Unexpected sights

High in the hills above the Luberon valley in the pretty village of Murs on a truly blue sky provencal day, this imposing chateau stands proud on the hillside.

Summer colour

Spectacular oleander and charming amaryllis, the colours of summer in Provence

A restaurant with a view - and what a view

The restaurant at the Hostellerie de Crillon de Brave in the Cotes de Rhone area of the Dentelles

And the view - across vineyards and orchards to Mont Ventoux in the distance.

14 July celebrations

The courtyard of the Palais des Papes in Avignon buzzing with people dancing, watching the open air shows and enjoying the beautiful setting.

Avignon en fete

The Avignon Festival in full swing. Advertising everywhere for all the shows - even the bank can't escape turning into a billboard!

The colours of summer

Golden wheat fields near Sault

Sun on the lavender

Glorious lavender

The Plateau de Sault in all its lavender glory. The colours in this magnificent countryside just fill the eye.

Shopping with a difference

The brand new shopping centre Les Terrasses has just opened in Marseille. Stunning views across the Mediterranean from the upstairs terrace. A perfect spot for strolling and dining at one of the outdoor restaurants before hitting the shops.

Lavender everywhere

Even the supermarket is in full bloom

Renting a holiday home in Provence more affordable, as pound climbs

Do you plan to rent a holiday home in Provence this year? If so, it may please you to know that renting in the Luberon is now more affordable, because the pound is shooting up against the euro. To be specific, just this week sterling hit its highest versus the Eurozone currency in 20 months, or since October 1st 2012, at 1.2563.

How does the strong pound affect you if you're renting a Provence property?

What this means if you're renting a holiday home in Provence is that you can expect a far higher euro total when you exchange currencies. For instance, were you to exchange £1,250 to rent in the Luberon, you'd now receive +€150 more than if you'd done so when the pound was at its weakest, at 1.1371, last March. So, this could help you splash out for a more lavish Provence property, or do any number of things with the extra cash!

Why is the pound climbing against the euro, and will sterling rise further?

Sterling is climbing against the euro, because the Bank of England is bringing forward the date when it intends to raise interest rates in the UK. Whereas the central bank had previously suggested it planned to do so in Spring 2015, it could now lift interest rates before the end of this year. This has lifted the pound, because it tells us the UK economy is booming! Moreover, this also means sterling could rise even higher!

Hence, 2014 is shaping up to be a great time to rent a property in Provence, as the rising pound cuts the cost of doing so.

About the author

Peter Lavelle is a currency dealer at foreign exchange broker Pure FX

For free expert currency advice when you rent a property in Provence, call him on +44 (0) 1494 671800 or email peter.lavelle@purefx.co.uk

He'll be glad to help.

Lavender time!

Its here at last, the fields are turning purple.  Lavender fields just in bloom near Roussillon in the Luberon.

Choices, choices

Roussillon market day and difficult decisions to be made

Bread

So this is how the bread dough is made!  Seen outside the boulangerie in Roussillon.

Feels like summer already in the Luberon

Market day in Lourmarin and the whole world is there browsing the stalls in the hot sunshine.

A host of lavender blue irises

This really is a spring for irises. A beautiful display of lavenderblue irises and purple allysums in a garden in the Alpilles

For Sale

We have two spare tickets for next Sundays Heineken Cup in Marseille bought in error. Toulon v Munster. Cost €75 each in the "Ganay" stand. No reasonable offer refused. If you would like them please get in touch or let any other rugby fans know. 

Many thanks.

Colour springing up everywhere

Yellow broom in flower and a pretty flower meadow in the Alpilles mountains  near St. Remy.  Just delightful strolling through the olive groves in the Spring.

Spring has sprung in Provence

Blue skies, warm days, cherry trees in blossom and the first irises in bloom. Its Spring in Provence.

Dramatic skies and sculptures

On a stormy day in January, dramatic skies over the Luberon valley and dramatic sculptures by the Chateau de Lacoste.

It feels like summer already at the seaside

A beautiful sunny Sunday in Bandol on the Mediterranean coast.  Exotic flowers in bloom, the boats at their winter moorings in the harbour under the bluest of skies - except for the one which at some time obviously suffered a stormy night on the coast and ended up on the beach!