South of France

The region known as the ‘Pays de Fayence’  is found in Provence, to the east of Grasse and to the north of Saint-Raphael (a coastal resort on the Cote d’Azur). A very attractive region, set in countryside where the mountains start to rise behind the flatter coastal region, the landscape is mixed, with woodlands and olive groves separated by large areas of wildderness with craggy outcrops of rock and steep cliffs lining valleys through which streams flow.

One of the more unusual building types that you will come across in southern France – especially in the medieval and bastide towns of the south-west of the country – is the traditional market hall. These typically date back up to 700 years, and have long served as permanent ‘covered markets’. Because of this role they are usually found in the centre of towns (eg Villereal, Monpazier, Domme and many others), usually in a large open square. There are various [...]

The Dordogne region has numerous buildings that are immediately recognisable, such as Chateau Beynac or Chateau des Milandes – great impressive medieval castles standing aloft on rocky clifftops that have come to represent the region, along with the picture-postcard-pretty villages that dot the region. But these are perhaps not the memories that you will take away with you after a vacation in the region! Despite the popularity of the region with visitors (during the summer months) there are still numerous [...]

The Basque region runs along the border between France and Spain, and includes part of the south-west of France, running eastwards into the Pyrenees. The region is attractive to visitors for various reasons, including the coastline and resorts, the mountain scenery and activities, and for the villages. The Basque villages have a very individual style, with the houses being whitewashed, with the exposed wood (shutters, beams etc) being painted red or green – these are the traditional Basque colours and [...]

Travelling around France you will occasionally find yourself in a lost corner that has not yet been taken over by renovating expats and is miles from the nearest sign of life. These corners are ever harder to find, especially in the more popular tourist centres of the country, but are a particular treat because they hark back to how France ‘is supposed to be’ and how visitors will still perhaps imagine it. It is these small discoveries that are as [...]

The south of France – especially the south-east of France – attracted many artists during the decades between 1890 and 1960, several of whom later became household names with paintings and artworks valued at millions of dollars. This we all know. In a village a few kilometres inland from Cagnes-sur-Mer on the French riviera is a great work of art that will never be sold and is impossible to value – the Matisse chapel at Vence. Matisse himself is said [...]