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

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

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

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

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