Looking down from the Medieval hilltop village of Eze, you can clearly make out the square, pink Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild at the very heart of the peninsular that is Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Once the private residence of the fabulously wealthy Baroness Ephrussi de Rothschild, it is now a museum run by the ‘Academie des Beaux-Arts’ and filled with every kind of beauty the Baroness brought together – a poetic evocation of the places and things she loved.
An old Customs Path – the ‘Sentier du Littoral’ hugs the scenic Var coastline
I park my car at ‘La Pointe l’Arpillon’ in the seaside town of San Peire in Les Issambres and begin my walk along the coastal pathway towards ‘La Plage des Gireliers’. Behind me, the famous clock tower of Saint Tropez beckons across the topaz waters of the Gulf where sailboats meander in the freshening breeze.
Once upon a time at Chateau La Napoule
Mandelieu-la-Napoule sits just to the southwest of Cannes on the Cote d’Azur and is home to the Chateau de la Napoule, once a medieval fortress; later destroyed in the French Revolution; and ultimately restored and renovated by the 20th Century American artist Henry Clews Jr. and his wife Marie. Today, the chateau boasts a terrace overlooking the Mediterranean Sea which literally laps at the feet of its stone walls.
Discover the Joys of Nature at Domaine du Rayol
Located at the foot of the Massif des Maures in the Var region of Southern France, the Domaine du Rayol with its twenty acres of lush, verdant scenery, will delight anyone keen to discover the joys of nature.
Discover the Golden Isles
Pristine beaches, historic sites, and coastal beauty await … along the sun-kissed waters of the Southern Mediterranean coastline, the small island of Port Cros comes into view, its round ‘Fort du Moulin’ presiding over the small harbour.
The Enchanting village of Eze
Imagine yourself in an ethereal garden high up on a mountain top above the aqua waters of a Mediterranean Sea, where ambrosial flora sways at the feet of cherubic statues and a heavenly aroma of jasmine fills the air. This is the exotic garden of Eze – a most divine place perched in the hills above Monaco where a precipitous stone stairway leads you to these ‘Jardins Exotique’ – each step a step closer to the the most breathtaking views imaginable.
The Perfumes of Grasse: Make your own Scent in the World’s Perfume Capital
Did you know you can make your own perfume at workshops offered by famous perfumeries such as Galimard, Fragonard, and Molinard? Join Gillie Hutchinson on the French Riviera as she tries them out…
French Property News: Renovations in my holiday home on the Côte d’Azur
For the full article, click here then turn to view page 68.
Escape to a Gourmet Chateau
It’s not often you can take a cooking class at a luxurious, Michelin-starred French chateau without even being a guest. After a pleasant drive into the Var hinterland, between Lorgues and Flayosc, I arrive at the Chateau’s stone-pillared entrance as the morning sun spills onto a driveway that leads me through lush vineyards, green forest and terraced olive groves until the square tower of the Chateau de Berne comes into view.
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Discover the Charm of Roquebrune-sur-Argens in Provence
The first thing you notice when arriving in the small, medieval town of Roquebrune-sur-Argens is the massive rock that towers above it. Nestled at its feet, like a stone tapestry fallen from its imposing summit, the town is made up of three parts – the village strewn with 16th Century porticos, chapels and Castrum, the seaside area of Les Issambres, and the forest of ‘Palayson’ in the district of ‘La Bouverie’, set between umbrella pines and eucalyptus. It is a canvas of landscapes with red rocks and green hillsides and a panorama of lush Provencal vineyards.
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Gassin – one of the most beautiful villages in France
The perched village of Gassin is a medieval jewel in the crown of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, its sweeping views reigning over the entire peninsula from a height of two hundred meters above sea level. From its thirteenth century ramparts you can look down at the seaside towns of La Croix-Valmer, with its steep and hidden coves, Sainte Maxime with its symbolic curved white ‘Preconcil’ bridge; and inland to the villages of Collobrieres, tucked deep in the ‘Maures’ mountains, and Plan de la Tour spread across the Var countryside.
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Lavender Blue
When I moved to my home on the Sunshine Coast in beautiful British Columbia, I planted a row of lavender in my garden to remind me of Provence. That was fifteen years ago, and I now boast an abundant crop of aromatic, bright violet buds blushing in tufts all across my garden. It provides a haven for the bees, and a lavender blue so bright and splendid that it outdoes every other plant in the garden.
Caption: Bees in Lavender garden
It is 08.30 in the morning as I don my gardening hat and gloves and head outside. I have decided to harvest this summer’s lavender, with many creative ideas as to what I shall make with it. For harvesting I have read that you are supposed to cut each lavender stem just below the second leaf from the bud, so I diligently begin cutting the bottom rows overhanging the greenhouse patio first, working my way along. For the higher rows, I position the stepladder and carefully climb up in order to reach with my scissors. Once I have a full basket, I lay out the crop on the potting table to rest, then continue the harvest.
Caption: Gathering my first lavender cuttings
The bees are curious as to why I am removing their source of delight, and I pause to take several photos, savouring the quiet of the early morning, and the gentle buzzing of the bees as they flit from bud to bud. Lavender is used as an ingredient in recipes for salves, lotions, creams, soaps, bath salts and is said to have a relaxing effect. As I carefully trim and gather, I feel a sense of well-being amidst this beautiful, healing plant.
Caption: A bountiful basket
Lavender also has many culinary uses, and I am excited at the prospect of using some of the buds, once fully dried. Ideas include chopping the buds and adding to a cake batter or as flavouring to add to flour for making bread. Flower buds can be sprinkled on salads, infused in teas, cocktails or used as herbs when roasting meats. Or you can simply enjoy the lavender in floral bouquets.
Once I have cut the top level of lavender and filled a second basket, I have sufficient lavender for my harvest. I decide to leave a thin row for the bees to enjoy. After harvesting comes bundling and hanging, so I lay out my crop and gather small bunches of about 15-20 stems, tying them with a thin elastic band about 2” from the bottom bud and again near the bottom of the stems, removing any thin leaves. This is fairly time-consuming since I have about 7 trays full of lavender with hundreds of stems!
Caption: Bundling the lavender
After about two hours of careful bundling, I am ready to hang the lavender for drying. This drying process take about 7 to 10 days, and the lavender should be stored in a warm, dry place to preserve the fragrance. I have 33 bundles in total from my harvest, and keen to find a suitable spot to move them away from the outdoor heat and sunlight.
The perfect spot is my utility room, where I hang the bundles below my baskets. They are in good company along with my framed vintage lavender print, and lavender hand and laundry soaps. It has been a wonderful couple of days harvesting and being out in the garden in nature, smelling the lavender as I fill my basket.
I could almost be in Provence. All that is missing is the chirping of the cicadas!