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PROVENCE: GEOGRAPHY MATTERS
“Provence” has more efficacy as a "brand" than as a place. One rarely if ever hears any residents of the Vaucluse say that they live in "Provence." The word is heard frequently in its adjectival form: provençal.
As geography, the term "Provence" suffers abuse. The French consider contemporary 'Provence' to take in three administrative department:
- Vaucluse
- Bouches-du-Rhône
- Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Confusion pops up due to the administrative region PACA: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
When "Provence" is employed for the department of the Var (Toulon, St, Tropez) or the department of the Alpes-Maritime (Côte d'Azur) or even the five departments of the Languedoc-Roussillon, it is the "brand" asserting itself.
This is a regional distinction that Peter Mayle buys into 100% in his book Provence A-Z. In fact, if Mayle had been 'geographically-correct,' his iconic best seller would have been titled "A Year in the Luberon."
The Luberon and the Comtat Venaissin, referred to as the “Comtat,” are the two large regions within the Vaulcuse,
Author Archives: BB Kuett
Goult: Mas de la Médecine (au lieu d’un Gite)
In the heart of the Calavon Valley in the heart of the Luberon, the bed and breakfast Le Mas de la Médecine is on the southern flank of the quiet village of Goult, a short hop to the perched villages … Continue reading
Murs: Mas de Roquejeanne (au lieu d’un Gite)
A restored French farmhouse perched on a hillside amidst acres of unspoiled farmland with a stunning vista of lavender fields and cherry orchards, the Mas de Roquejeanne is a peaceful bucolic retreat in the Luberon. PVB stumbled on this hermetically-sealed … Continue reading
Gordes: L’Asphodèle (au lieu d’un Gite)
The sweeping views are glorious from L’Asphodèle, a uniquely-designed bed and breakfast nestled in the verdant “grand calme” a mile up the hill from Gordes, the iconic village of stone edifices ‘perched’ on the side of large hill. Upon your … Continue reading
Mazan: Auberge du Vin (au lieu d’un Gite)
From the large pool of the Auberge du Vin, you gaze out at an ocean of vineyards which seem to flow up to the slopes of the Mont Ventoux in the distance. What guests treasure about the Auberge is its … Continue reading
Saint-Rémy-De-Provence: Le Mas des Tourterelles (au lieu d’un Gite)
If the animated buzz and bourgeois mien in the cafes and restaurants of St.-Rémy-de-Provence appear to mimic the frenetic energy of Paris, consider that St-Remy is a favored summer hangout of the Parisian smart set (French who say “je suis confu” … Continue reading
Lacoste: Domaine de Layaude Basse (au lieu d’un Gite)
“La Coste is a château that looks like a fortress, without the slightest regularity. The approaches are quite steep and unpleasant because of the rockslides and the height of the mountain. There is no shelter anywhere near the château, a … Continue reading
Nos Petites Opinions: New York Times Flops “Little Black Dress” Saga of Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany”
Audrey Hepburn in the Opening Shot of Breakfast at Tiffany’s in LBD Made by Edith Head In lurching through the world of fashion one is visited with the vague fatigue of brand hysteria, and to be mildly distrustful of it. … Continue reading
St. Rémy de Provence: Compositions as Body Art by Jacopo Baboni-Schilingi at the Outrageously Trendy Mas de l’Amarine
A virtuoso of raw force, the composer Jacopo Baboni-Schilingi has a quick hand – one with great élan for applying musical scores to the bare skins of those willing to model the music which he composed for an evening of … Continue reading
Ménerbes: A “Pianocktail” With the Mellifluous Voice of Margeaux Lampley, Once of Oakland, California
Margeaux Lampley Chirping Out the Lyrics Below with Racey Gilbert on Drums (r.) “I should hate you But I guess I love you You’ve got me in between The devil and the deep blue sea” For jazz enthusiasts in … Continue reading
Vaucluse: Michelin Star Restaurants With Their Wine Lists Online. Only 5 Out of 16. Southern Rhone Reds to Quaff This Summer
For those who invest extraordinary emotions into wine, the selection of a bottle(s) at a Michelin star establishment can provoke anxiety mixed with pleasure, the reason why for wine enthusiasts the carte des vins gets a first look before the … Continue reading