Author: Susan Manfull

NEED SOMETHING FOR MONDAY NIGHT’S DINNER? GO TO THE MARKET AT CADENET…AND, WHILE YOU’RE THERE, POKE AROUND!

Posted on by Susan Manfull
Mondays are the best day to visit Cadenet. Okay, some people will say that Monday is the only day to visit Cadenet. Oh heck, some people will wonder why Cadenet is even on our list of “Ten Markets We Always Visit in Provence.” If you are a tourist planning your trip to Provence with the usual laundry list of places to go and things to see in a nano-second, neither Cadenet nor its market should be near the top—or even in the middle—of your list. But, if Monday has rolled around after a busy week...
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MAYOR BLAISE DIAGNE WANTS LOURMARIN TO BE AN “OPEN VILLAGE” THAT “WELCOMES ALL”…. We think he’s been successful!

Posted on by Susan Manfull
Sometimes I wonder what draws people to Lourmarin. I have visited many villages now, some completely devoid of appeal—even in Provence, such villages do exist—and others with loads of appeal—things tourist books like to mention such as breathtaking views, perfectly manicured window boxes, picturesque squares, streets lined with high-end boutiques, a river running through the center of town, or a perched locale—but, when I return to Lourmarin, a humble village whose charm does not gush out all ov...
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JACQUELINE BRICARD WELCOMES NAÏF ARTISTS TO LOURMARIN

Posted on by Susan Manfull
Naïf art is that which takes inspiration from the soul. The artists who produce this style of work are generally self-taught or at least not academically trained. Their work is therefore free from any prescribed convention. Their work is usually characterized by very bright and bold colors, distortions in perspective and size, and a seemingly childlike or simplistic style (although a closer examination reveals that the work is neither although it certainly appeals to the child in each of us!). ...
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SATURDAY MORNINGS IN PROVENCE: WE’RE APT TO BE IN APT

Posted on by Susan Manfull
The heart of Apt, where the market unfolds every Saturday, is a labyrinth of narrow streets dating back to its Roman period. Julius Caesar is said to have christened the town Apta Julia in 125 BCE. Then, it was an important town on the Via Domitia, the main passage between Italy and Spain. Later, in the Middle Ages, Apt was a principal religious center. Little evidence of Apt’s Roman days remain but the lovely 11th/12th century Sainte Anne Cathedral--actually, it was relegated to a basilica i...
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LA FERME DE CHEVRE – RESERVATIONS FOR FIVE….AND A FEW GOATS

Posted on by Susan Manfull
Note: This is not an experience for everyone--those with an aversion to narrow winding roads, a preference for vegetarian meals, and disinclination to dining with farm animals would want to skip this excursion. Fans of David Sedaris’ most recent book, “Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary,” will no doubt be inspired. Tired of white linens, sommeliers, and Michelin stars? Consider lunch at Le Castelas, a working goat farm, for another kind of Provençal dining experience. Susan and David Fro...
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14th OF JULY — LE QUARTORZE JUILLET — LET’S CELEBRATE WITH A BASTILLE DAY DINNER PARTY

Posted on by Susan Manfull
We are grateful to David Scott Allen of Cocoa & Lavender for developing an original menu and to Win Rhoades (proprietor of South Street and Vine) for his knowledgeable recommendations on wine and cheese.  We are indebted to Mark Sammons for his erudite synopsis of the history of Bastille Day.I was lucky enough to be in Paris on Bastille Day in 1974.  I saw tanks and military troops parade down the Avenue des Champs-Elysées, hundreds of French flags flying everywher...
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10 MARKETS IN PROVENCE: PLAN TO SPEND THE DAY AT L’ISLE-SUR-LA-SORGUE

Posted on by Susan Manfull
This post is the third in a series that will feature each of the ten markets that The Modern Trobadors always visit when in Provence. The markets were selected primarily on the basis of the quality of the offerings of the vendors and the ambiance of the venue although practicality was also considered to some extent (e.g., distance from our home in Lourmarin, market options on that day of the week, convenience of parking, etc.). Bottom line is that these are the markets we visit when we are in Pr...
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10 MARKETS IN PROVENCE: LITTLE CUCURON IS ONE OF OUR VERY FAVORITES!

Posted on by Susan Manfull
This post is the second in a series that will feature each of the ten markets that The Modern Trobadors always visit when in Provence. The markets were selected primarily on the basis of the quality of the offerings of the vendors and the ambiance of the venue although practicality was also considered to some extent (e.g., distance from our home in Lourmarin, market options on that day of the week, convenience of parking, etc.). Bottom line is that these are the markets we visit when we are in P...
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WHEN IN PROVENCE, DO AS THE ROMANS DID: ATTEND A PERFORMANCE IN ORANGE’S ROMAN THEATRE

Posted on by Susan Manfull
On June 17th, some 2,000 years after its construction, the Theatre Antique in Orange, will lift the curtain for its 142nd annual Les Chorégies d’Orange festival, the oldest festival in France.  If you are traveling in Provence, don’t miss the opportunity to attend one of the lyrical and musical performances in this extraordinary venue:  the performers world renown, the acoustics considered perfect, and the venue extraordinary.  You are guaranteed to be transported to another world. If you kno...
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EASTER ON THE CANAL DU MIDI

Posted on by Susan Manfull
The Modern Trobadors ventured beyond Provence for this story.  The Canal du Midi is a short drive from Provence--for example, it is a three-hour drive from Lourmarin to Carcassonne, the world-famous medieval castle and fortified city.  This is one of those "must-see" destinations in one's life.     We celebrated Easter on the Canal du Midi eleven years ago.  It was a glorious day in every respect.  The details of holidays past often fade or blend together as th...
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