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

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

Nice Carnival Spectacular parades, monumental floats, flower battles, and colorful costumes: the Nice Carnival is one of the most iconic winter events in Provence. Every year, it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors eager to experience a festive tradition deeply rooted in local history and culture. The Nice Carnival, a major event in Provence Nice Carnival 2025 The Nice Carnival is one of the most famous carnivals in the world. Today, it is considered the third largest

Mardi Gras Masks in Provence Mardi Gras is a popular and festive celebration, deeply rooted in Provence, often associated with costumes, carnival parades, and indulgent treats. For a long time, I must admit, I personally struggled to understand the difference between Mardi Gras and Candlemas. Crêpes, winter, celebrations… everything seemed to blur together in my mind. And yet, they are two very distinct traditions, with different origins and meanings. In this article, I expla

Virginie in Provence and her husband, a simple and intimate Valentine’s Day moment Like in many countries, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in France, and of course in Provence. Even if Aix-en-Provence ranks “only” eighth among the most romantic cities in France, that doesn’t stop Provençal people — and residents of Aix — from celebrating the holiday of love. Valentine’s Day is a celebration that leaves no one indifferent: it has its followers, its traditions… but also its criti

Fireworks above a French city lit up for New Year’s Eve Hello everyone! Today, I’d like to talk to you about New Year’s Eve — because it’s always a big celebration for us, both for kids and adults. Every year, we get together with friends who live nearby. We prepare a big dinner, open some bubbles, and of course, at midnight sharp, we wish each other a happy new year! When we were younger, we used to go out dancing until sunrise… That’s less and less the case now. These days,

Virginie In Provence ready for sales. Bonjour à toutes et tous ! My name is Virginie, I’m a French teacher for foreign learners, and today I’d like to talk to you about a global phenomenon: Black Friday . To be honest, I’m not really a fan of shopping. 😄 I love accompanying my students when they discover Provençal markets, small local shops, or the lively city centers of Aix and Marseille…But for me, it’s a different story. Shopping in a crowd just isn’t my thing.I prefer o

Virginie in Provence and her family — a warm and welcoming home for French immersion students Hello! My name is Virginie, and I’m a French teacher for foreigners. Every year, I welcome students from all over the world for French immersion stays in Provence. Most of my students come from the United States, and it’s thanks to them that I discovered Thanksgiving several years ago. I immediately loved the story behind this celebration — its human spirit, its message of gratitude,

Kathleen and Georges came to our home immersion in November 2019. Doing an immersion was a dream for Kathleen. At the start of her stay, she told me that she wanted to visit Renoir's house. We therefore put everything in place to make this possible. That’s why today Kathleen can share her adventure with us. Picture of Auguste Renoir We went to Renoir's house in Cros de Cagnes one day in November with our teacher Virginie. Unfortunately the museum was only open 2 hours in the

What is the Vendée Globe? Do you know the Vendée Globe? It is a very famous sailing race. Sailors (or navigators) leave from Les Sables d´Olonne - a French seaside resort - and return there after having traveled around the world. Photo des Sables d'Olonne d' Emmanuel Alcouffe This race is considered one of the toughest in the world. Some call it the "Everest" of the seas. Indeed, the race can be scary! How is the Vendée Globe going? The race is done alone, non-stop and withou

Candles lit for All Saints’ Day, a symbol of light and remembrance in Provence Hello! My name is Nina, and I live in Melbourne, Australia.This autumn, I took the leap — I decided to join a French immersion program in Provence. I chose Virginie in Provence because the place is absolutely beautiful, and Virginie is an exceptional teacher — my friend Phil had highly recommended her. I was lucky enough to arrive during that peaceful season when life begins to slow down in the Sou

Lily and Tom ready for Halloween in Provence – full of laughter, costumes and treats! As far back as I can remember, I never celebrated Halloween as a child. This holiday gradually made its way into French culture. And even though not everyone celebrates it, everyone knows about it.Today , for my children’s generation, it has become a true ritual: every year, they look forward to Halloween with excitement. I. Halloween: a bit of history Halloween: a celebration between Celtic

Alex proudly showing his medal after completing the 20 km Marseille–Cassis race Every year, at the end of October, the Marseille–Cassis race returns — much to the delight of running enthusiasts. This iconic event links Marseille’s Stade Vélodrome to the heights of Cassis. It brings together both amateur runners and seasoned athletes, all united by the same passion for challenge.   A race with deep roots   The Calanques, a breathtaking landscape between sea and hills along the

La rentrée scolaire at Rousset, in Provence After the holidays, what will you do? For my 3 children, it's back to school time with joy and great mood. Summer holidays last 2 months in France. In 2021, the holidays were from July 7th to September 1st. The back-to-school day always takes place on September 1st. So, if September 1st is a Thursday. The children must take their schoolbag back on a Thursday. It turns out that this year September 1st is a Wednesday. As there is no s

Virginie In Provence It’s back to school in France. I just reread my article from the last two years. And I realize that the concerns have really changed. For two years, we were mostly concerned about whether children would wear masks or not. Even if Covid has not disappeared, the questions related to the back to school have become more classic. Children wonder who will be their master or mistress and if they will find their classmates in their class. I will tell you here ho

Angela during her immersion in Provence in front of a work by Vasarely My name is Angela. I am American. I was born in Louisiana and live in California. I’m on my fourth immersion with Virginie. The latter knows my passion for modern art. This is why she took me to explore the Vasarely Foundation in Aix-en-Provence. Today, I take you to this place which promises a deep immersion in the world of Op Art. Discovery of the Vasarely Foundation: a pillar of modern art The Vasarely

The refuge of Cézanne at the bottom of the Sainte-Victoire Mountain My name is Mary Katherine. I believe you'll be reading several articles written by me because I'm immersed with Virginie In Provence for the entire month of January. This week, Virginie is introducing me to the Cézanne Studio in Aix-en-Provence. I'm taking you along with us.   1. Visiting Cézanne's studio during your immersion in Provence: Studio Description   a. Visiting Cézanne's studio during your immersio

Marcia facing the Sainte-Victoire mountain Hello. My name is Marcia. I'm from Albuquerque. I came to Provence for immersion on the recommendation of my French teacher in the United States, who is also named Virginie. She is also known by her business name, "Ehouiclass." I've been here for a few days now, and I feel very comfortable in my studio surrounded by Virginie and her family. So, I want to share with you one of the beautiful days I had the chance to experience in this

July 14 Parade July 14th is our national holiday. It is a public holiday where we meet with family or friends to celebrate. Many events take place: balls, concerts, parades but also fireworks. Outside of France, the expression used to talk about this bank holiday is “Bastille day”. But it is an expression that the French do not use. Between us, we ask ourselves: “What are you doing on July 14th?”. And you, what are you doing in Provence this july 14th? Rousset is the small v

Provence has an undeniable charm. That is why it continues to captivate visitors from all over the world. This emblematic region of the South of France is also the guardian of words and expressions specific to its region. Following the article «Le provençal en Provence par Virginie In Provence», new Provençal expressions were requested. I share here the 10 Provençal expressions to know absolutely if you come to Provence. From the origin of these expressions to their profound