A new school year, and a new chapter for our family When you learn French, you quickly come across a word that you hear everywhere at the end of summer: la rentrée. Of course, people talk about la rentrée scolaire, the start of the school year, but also la rentrée politique, la rentrée littéraire and even la rentrée culturelle. On the other hand, when someone is simply going back to work after their holidays, we are more likely to say “bonne reprise !” than “bonne rentrée”. I

A new school year and a new stage for all three Back-to-school season has always been a special time in our family. For a long time, it meant getting three school bags ready, seeing friends again outside primary school, and finding out the name of the new teacher. This year, something is changing. For the first time, none of our three children is in primary school anymore. Léo is starting high school, Tom is continuing middle school, and Lily is taking her first steps into 6e

Lonnie and Virginie in the vineyards of Domaine Terre de Mistral When I arrived in Provence for my French immersion with Virginie, my main goal was to improve my French. I certainly didn't expect to become... a winemaker for a morning. Just a few minutes from Virginie's home lies Domaine Terre de Mistral, a family-owned vineyard nestled at the foot of the iconic Sainte-Victoire Mountain. That day, I wasn't simply visiting a winery. I was about to discover everything that happ

First boat trip in the beautiful harbour of Cassis. After reading this article, you will know: why Cassis is one of Virginie’s favourite excursions; what makes the Calanques so exceptional; why this day is ideal for practising French naturally; what you truly experience during a French immersion programme in Provence. Hello! My name is Julia, and I come from England. When I arrived in Provence to learn French with Virginie, I already knew that this week would be different fro

Les flamands roses du parc ornithologique du Pont de Gau Hello! My name is Angela! This winter, I decided to return to Provence for another French immersion stay with Virginie. The first time was back in 2018! Since then, I've been coming back regularly. I chose Virginie in Provence because the setting is absolutely beautiful, the French lessons are completely tailored to each student, and Virginie is an exceptional teacher. During my stay, I discovered many Provençal traditi

Hello, my name is Axelle. As part of my work with Virginie In Provence, I had the opportunity to visit Domaine Terre de Mistral, a beautiful family-owned wine estate located in Rousset, at the foot of the Sainte-Victoire Mountain, just a few minutes from Aix-en-Provence. In this article, I'd like to take you along on my visit, from exploring the vineyard and learning about the winemaking process to tasting some of the estate's delicious wines. Visiting Domaine Terre de Mistra

Défilé du 14 juillet July 14th is the French National Day. Every year, this public holiday brings French people together for a wide range of celebrations: military parades, traditional dances, concerts, official ceremonies, and fireworks displays. If you are travelling in France during the summer, July 14th is a wonderful opportunity to discover French culture and the festive atmosphere that can be felt throughout the country. Why do we celebrate July 14th in France? Outside

Marcia face à la montagne Sainte-Victoire Hello, my name is Marcia and I come from Albuquerque, New Mexico. I am currently taking part in a French immersion stay in Provence with Virginie In Provence. It was my American French teacher, Virginie, known through her business "Ehouiclass", who recommended this program to help me improve my French in an authentic environment. Since my arrival, I have felt completely welcomed by Virginie and her family. This experience allows me no

Every year, Provence attracts millions of visitors thanks to its stunning landscapes, relaxed lifestyle, delicious cuisine, and unique cultural heritage. But discovering Provence also means learning a few Provençal expressions that are an integral part of the local identity. After our article about the Provençal language in Provence, many readers asked for more vocabulary and typical expressions from the South of France. Here is a selection of the 12 most famous Provençal exp

Do you speak French? What about Provençal? Do you speak French? What about Provençal? Don't worry, you don't need to speak Provençal to visit Provence! However, during your stay, you may hear a few words or expressions that don't quite sound like the French you've learned. Provençal is an important part of Provence's cultural identity. Although this regional language is used less frequently today than it was in the past, it remains present in everyday life, local traditions,

Every summer, the Tour de France captures the attention of millions of sports enthusiasts. This legendary competition crosses some of France’s most beautiful landscapes and challenges the world's best cyclists. Here in Provence, we also follow this adventure with great enthusiasm! My husband is a huge sports fan, especially when it comes to cycling. Every year, he watches the Tour de France, particularly the mountain stages. Thanks to him, I was able to gather plenty of infor

Lavender fields on the Valensole Plateau in Provence Hello everyone! My name is Liam. I'm Australian, and I love adventure as well as discovering new cultures. This summer, I had the opportunity to take part in a French immersion program in Provence with Virginie. This experience allowed me to improve my French while discovering the landscapes, culture, and gastronomy of Provence. Provence in summer is a true paradise: endless lavender fields, colorful markets, authentic vill

Roi, Reine et Fou - Max Ernst Virginie knows that I love art. In fact, this was already my third French immersion stay in Provence with her. My name is Angela, and you may have already read some of my previous articles. Writing these stories is a wonderful way for me to practise my French while sharing my discoveries. During this stay, we dedicated a day to exploring the cultural scene of Aix-en-Provence. Between the exhibition "Max Ernst, Magical Worlds, Liberated Worlds" at

Pétanque game in Provence Are you planning a language stay in Provence and looking to discover Provençal culture in a different way? During your French immersion with Virginie In Provence, you will not only learn the French language, but also experience local traditions such as the famous pétanque, a true symbol of southern France. An authentic French immersion in the heart of Provence Pétanque balls in Provence During your stay in Provence with us, you will be accommodated

Kathleen and Virginie In Provence in Rousset near Sainte-Victoire mountain During our stay in Provence, we reunited with Virginie from Virginie In Provence in Rousset, a charming village located just 25 minutes from Aix-en-Provence. Rousset is a typical Provençal village of around 5,000 inhabitants where you can find everything you need: bakeries, restaurants, local shops, the post office, and hair salons. Among all the local places we discovered, the restaurant Grand Boise w

Panoramic view of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde in Marseille Hello, my name is Angela. This year, I am back in Provence for a French immersion stay with Virginie in Provence. During my stay, we decided to visit Marseille and its most iconic landmarks. When we arrived at the Old Port of Marseille, I noticed the famous tourist train that goes up to the Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde. I was immediately delighted because I had dreamed of visiting this emblematic monument of Marsei

A Provençal aperitif with a glass of pastis during a French immersion stay in Provence Discovering pastis during an immersion in Provence When you come to Provence, an entire world of new flavors and Provençal traditions will open up to you. Among the region’s most iconic specialties, I will invite you to discover the famous calisson from Aix-en-Provence, the delicious tarte tropézienne… and of course pastis, the emblematic drink of southern France. A true symbol of the Prove

Lavender fields in Provence Hello everyone! My name is Lucas, and I’m passionate about travel, always looking for authentic and immersive experiences. Recently, I had the opportunity to enjoy a French immersion stay in Provence with Virginie, a French teacher who is deeply passionate about her region. Between French lessons, Provençal gastronomy, and discovering the famous lavender fields of Provence, this experience became much more than a simple language trip. My immersion

Traditional bouillabaisse from Marseille My children love confit garlic, olives and fish soup. It often surprises my students when they come to our home, and we usually laugh about it together. At home, we love enjoying a good bouillabaisse from time to time. I do not cook it myself, but my cousin, who lives in Marseille, prepares it wonderfully well. She shared her traditional recipe with me and kindly agreed to let me share it with you today. I will also take this opportuni

Zucchini velouté at L’Éveil du Goût restaurant in Rousset Introduction: a well-known restaurant in Rousset Highly regarded for its gastronomy in Rousset, the restaurant L’Éveil du Goût is often fully booked. Several times, my students during their French immersion in Provence were unable to have lunch there because there were no tables available. I strongly recommend making a reservation at the beginning of your stay. A lovely terrace on the village square The village square