Virginie and Marcia in Aix-en-Provence, enjoying a Provence immersion experience My name is Marcia. I spent a wonderful week of immersion with Virginie. I would like to share with you an excursion that really left a lasting impression on me. That day, after breakfast and our morning lesson on the conditional tense, we headed to Aix-en-Provence. On the way, we had to stop for petrol, which was not easy at all. The refineries were on strike at the time. After exploring the beau

My family in the vineyards in Rousset We have been living in Rousset since 2020. Rousset is a small Provençal village located at the foot of the Montagne Sainte-Victoire. This peaceful haven offers a stunning natural setting just 15 kilometers from Aix-en-Provence. When you arrive in Rousset for a French immersion in Provence, you will quickly notice that we are literally surrounded by vineyards. Here, I would like to share my favorite vineyard addresses around the Sainte-Vic

Provence as a setting for learning People often imagine a language immersion stay in Provence as a series of intensive classes, forced conversations, and constant efforts to “speak correctly.” In reality, a day in a French immersion program in Provence looks much more like ordinary life — simply lived in French. Here, you wake up, have breakfast, talk about the weather, the children, the plan for the day. You don’t start working on French first thing in the morning.You let i

The Rotonde Fountain in Aix-en-Provence, a must-see landmark in the heart of the city Hello, When traveling far from home, we often want to see as much as possible—especially when discovering a region as rich and diverse as Provence. So I thought that an overview of the best excursions around Aix-en-Provence could help you choose according to your interests: villages, nature, heritage, sea, gastronomy, or vineyards. Below, I’m sharing a list of the main places to visit in the

Chairs on the Croisette facing the sea in Cannes For those who don’t know me yet, my name is Virginie. When I was a child, I dreamed of becoming an actress or a singer. I could easily imagine myself walking up the famous red carpet steps of the Cannes Film Festival. In fact, I became a French immersion teacher, my passion job, after working for 10 years in the tourism industry. Today, I’m taking you with me to discover the Cannes Film Festival, one of the most prestigious eve

Lunch with a view over the bay of Menton During my immersion stay with Virginie in Provence, some days are dedicated to practicing French while discovering iconic places in the region. That Thursday, I wanted to surprise her… and invite her to lunch at Mirazur, a three-Michelin-star restaurant voted best restaurant in the world in 2019. We drove to Menton as part of the immersion experience, which allowed us to practice French naturally along the way. We left earlier than usu

Provençal cooking in immersion with a student Hello everyone, Today, I’d like to tell you about one of the most typical dishes of Provence: daube provençale . Here, everyone knows this culinary specialty. That doesn’t mean everyone loves it. My children, for example, don’t really like meat, so daube is not their favorite dish. I usually cook daube provençale when I have good eaters at home—especially meat lovers. I would be delighted to introduce you to this traditional recip

Sainte-Victoire Mountain, Paul Cézanne’s muse in Provence How it all began I am a big fan of Paul Cézanne. I’ve visited his studio in Aix-en-Provence about ten times. I deeply love his story and his paintings. I often include this visit in my French immersion programs in Provence. The visit of Cézanne’s studio lasts about 30 minutes. It can be done with a French-speaking guide, with an audio guide, or simply with me. I always truly enjoy guiding my students and sharing what I

Provence is felt before it is told For several years now, I have been welcoming people from all over the world for French immersion stays in Provence. Some come to improve their French, others to slow down their rhythm of life, and others simply to experience something more human, more rooted in everyday life. Often, they arrive with a rather vague idea of what a language immersion stay in Provence really is. And almost always, they leave with much more than they expected. He

French immersion in Provence: the Pont du Gard through Jon’s eyes A French immersion in Provence: our experience My name is Jon, and I came to France for a vacation, including two weeks of French immersion with Virginie in Provence. I came with my wife, Marie. We are retired and were looking for a new adventure—something different. I had been wanting to experience a language immersion in France for three years. From the very beginning, Virginie was very responsive to my email

Virginie and Axel share their perspective on women’s sports in Provence Hello,. My name is Axelle. I was born and raised in Provence, where I still live today. I work alongside Virginie to help prepare your immersion stays in Provence. In our daily work, we are passionate about helping you discover the emblematic places of the region… but also topics that truly matter to us. As both a student and a basketball player, I wanted, through this article, to share my perspective on

Angela and I during our pottery class in Aix-en-Provence My name is Angela. At the beginning of the year, Virginie’s husband gave her a voucher for a pottery wheel class. She invited me to join her… and I gladly accepted. After sharing breakfast, we drove to Aix-en-Provence. We arrived a bit early, which gave us time to stroll around and browse a few shops before heading to the studio. The class starts at 10 a.m. A bright studio and an intimate atmosphere A bright and peacefu

The scent of May in Provence May is one of my favorite months in Provence. The days are longer and the temperatures are milder. Even though I often recommend discovering Provence in winter—a quieter season—May is also an ideal time to visit the region. Spring is fully settled, nature is in bloom, and many cultural events and French traditions take place during this period. It is also an important month in French history and culture. Indeed, several major historical events are

View of Marseille and Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde during an excursion in Provence Hello, My name is Angela, and I would like to tell you about the excursion I did with Virginie during my immersion in Provence. During my second one-month French immersion in Provence, I wanted to return to Marseille, one of the most iconic cities in the south of France. We started the day by visiting the city of Marseille, then we went up to the famous Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde , which offe

Easter egg hunt in the garden – a moment children eagerly look forward to Today, I’d like to introduce you to Easter traditions in France, and more specifically Easter traditions in Provence. Easter is a very important celebration in France, both religious, cultural, and family-oriented. In the Christian tradition, it celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The date of Easter changes every year. It is celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after March 21s

A peaceful place facing the pool, just minutes from Aix-en-Provence As you may know, I have been a French teacher for about ten years now. It is a profession I deeply love, for its human richness, the creativity it requires, and the connections it allows us to build. Over the years, however, I also felt the need to explore other dimensions of care and human connection. About seven years ago, I began training in somatic therapy. It was a long, intense, and fascinating journey.

Virginie cooking in Provence Those who know me know that I love to eat… and that I can eat quite a lot! What I especially love is discovering new flavors and sharing my favorite places. If you come for a French immersion stay in Provence, I can recommend the best restaurants in Rousset and around the Sainte-Victoire mountain. And yes… I also love champagne 🍾. I’ll happily share the cuvées Alex and I have approved. Here are my favorite restaurants near the house.  Le Bistrot

Les Baux-de-Provence, hilltop village How do you pronounce “Baux” in Les Baux-de-Provence? How do you pronounce Baux ? You pronounce Baux like the adjective beau . And I must say, this village truly lives up to its beautiful name. Where is Les Baux-de-Provence located?   Les Baux-de-Provence is located in the Alpilles mountain range, in Provence, in the south of France. It is a hilltop village with spectacular views over the surrounding valley. Val d’Enfer: a mysterious valle

Provençal cake by Pierre Mahieu at Weibel When I was pregnant (which happened three times in my life, after all 😉), I cooked a lot. And especially… pastries. Sweet indulgence is part of my story. During my first pregnancy, I even considered creating a food truck to sell crêpes in Australia. At eight months pregnant, I went to Brittany to learn how to make authentic Breton crêpes. During my second pregnancy, I wanted to take the French pastry diploma (CAP pâtissier). I rememb

Eguilles, a traditional Provençal village Provençal villages: beyond the clichés When we think of Provence, we often imagine: pastis, the singing accent, blue skies, cicadas, pine trees, lavender, sunflowers, the mistral wind, colorful markets, pétanque… Yes, all of that is part of Provence. But Provence is not just clichés. If you come for a French immersion stay in Provence, you will discover a more intimate, more authentic, more vibrant side of the region. The real Provenc