Reflections of winter in Provence

The beautiful light of Provence continues throughout the year. Here the winter sun in the village of Roussillon, the reflections of the water in the River Sorgue at Fontaine de Vaucluse and the stunning colours of the cherry trees before leaf fall.

Summer concert time

Two superb concert festivals have just opened in Provence. The International Piano Festival at La Roque d'Antheron and the International Chamber Music Festival in Salon de Provence. What better way to spend a summer evening than a concert under the stars at both of these lovely venues.

Its' almost lavender time in Provence. The fields are beginning to show their colour and it will soon be a carpet of purple and mauves in the Luberon valley. This field near the pretty village of Roussillon in the Luberon valley is already a popular photo stop!

Superb concert in Oppede le Vieux

For the second year, the old church in the ruined medieval village of Oppede le Vieux has hosted three fabulous concerts. Yesterday a mixture of pieces from Verdi, Handel and Mozart were just wonderful. A not to be missed summer concert in the Luberon.

Its that concert time of year in Provence

The concert season is in full swing in Provence starting this week with the superb Chamber Music Festival in Salon. This festival gathers together artists who are the very best in their field for some superb musical evenings in lovely historical locations. The Chateau de L'Emperi and the Abbaye de St. Croix are just two of the venues.

Tranquil Provence

A lovely place to relax on a hot summer day in Provence - the cool etang in the pretty village of Cucuron in the south Luberon.

Beautiful Aix

The lovely old buildings of Aix - a real treat for the eyes whether at night with their atmospheric lighting or in the day catching the rays of the Provencal winter sun

Marseille always lovely, always interesting

The Vieux Port in the winter sunshine - lovely as ever. And the morning fish market and local shops always interesting whatever the time of year.

Winter colours in Provence

The light of Provence catches all the beauty of the countryside whatever the season.

Easter Sunday Pottery Market

The lovely old village of Bonnieux hosts a pottery market every Easter when potters and artists from all around the region display their creativity.

Villages full of history - a story on every corner

Mediterranean skies

A bright day over the Mediterranean to start the New Year with a lovely rainbow over the coast at Marseille

A Luberon winter institution

Winter in Provence has to be celebrated with a taste of the superb truffles this region produces. There are many local truffle fairs at this time of the year but one of the best is held just after Christmas in Menerbes in the Luberon. Here yesterday the crowds turned out in force to enjoy the stroll to the square at the top of this lovely old village, maybe to buy but certainly to enjoy a soft truffle omelette - the perfect lunch!

Winter lavender

Beautiful at all times of the year. Nestling low on the ground under a blue provencal sky, this lavender field on the Plateau de Sault is in its winter hibernation.

Night skies in Provence

The moon over the windmill in the pretty Luberon village of Joucas and sunset over the Roussillon.

Panoramic views

The Luberon area has some of the most superb wide open vistas. Here on a winter's day the sun shines across the valley with views towards the southern Alps in the far distance - with just a touch of early snow on the tops.

A real Provence experience

On the quayside of the Vieux Port in Marseille the fishermen lay out their catch every morning, all year round. Tourists and locals alike stroll in the sunshine choosing the best of the catch for lunch.

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.

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.