Stephens is Owner of Olives & Vines. Olives & Vines is a luxury holiday company based in the South of France offering stays at their beautifully designed holiday house and boutique hotel in Le Castellet.
In this age of disposability, we often find old buildings razed to the ground and new characterless buildings replacing them but not so in a small village in Provence. Le Brûlat is part of the commune of Le Castellet located between Toulon and Marseille and just fifteen minutes from the coast. Since September 2016 there […]
Feeling like you always have the same old Christmas celebrations? Or feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of tackling crowded supermarkets in-time to get all the trimmings to go with your turkey? Fear not! There is still time to make this a festive season to remember by treating yourself to a Christmas abroad. Even better, check […]
With only a few weeks of 2018 left we thought now was the ideal time to begin looking to the year ahead… where do we want to go and what do we want to do?? No, these aren’t self-help, philosophical questions of the kind we’re going to see many (many) of filling our social media […]
The south of France can be a truly wonderful destination to enjoy during the winter. Although Provence is more typically associated with the summer months, those in the know make a point of ensuring they take a trip or two during the Autumn and Winter. With the crowds largely gone, you’ll be able to enjoy […]
Autumn the best time of year to visit Provence? Quite possibly! For those of you who are looking for the perfect destination for an Autumn getaway, carry on reading to discover some of the highlights of this fabulous region in September, October & November along with details of some unmissable events that are well worth […]
Being able to speak another language is an enviable skill and one that many of us aspire to acquire at some point, particularly after a holiday abroad! A subscription to Babbel that never gets used and the well-meaning resolution to learn 50 words a day are often the first casualties for the many of us […]
Just one of the many delights of a Provencal summer are the long evenings which offer the perfect excuse to throw an informal al fresco dinner party. The heat of the day has given way to a comfortable heat, the air is deliciously scented and the air is filled with the song of the cicadas […]
Summer is here… now all you have to do is head south to embrace the best that France has to offer… Provence! Clear blue skies, aquamarine sea, crusty French bread, succulent tomatoes, garlic, olives ripening on the trees and the heady scent of lavender. If that weren’t enough to tempt you, then here are some […]
There are many reasons to visit Provence not least the superb food and drink that is on offer. The wonderful Mediterranean climate produces a vast range of temptations… fabulous fruit and vegetables bursting with flavour, delectable wines, seafood from its shores and gorgeous local delicacies make this a veritable foodie heaven! Fruit and vegetables Markets […]
There is a whole lot more to Provence than just wine and romance. Only a short flight from the UK, it is a perfect destination for a half-term taste of sunshine. Or, if you are planning a summer break, Provence also offers plenty to keep the whole family happy for a longer holiday and, with […]
With Spring sprung and the warm weather returning, this is a gorgeous time of year to explore Provence as the region wakes up after Winter. One of the many delights about this region is the sheer variety of things to do and see. To help you plan your Spring in Provence I have listed a […]
As winter gives way to the promise of Spring, what better time to start thinking about the joys of Summer? And, where better to spend time during those balmy months than Provence? Here you will find fabulous cities, glorious villages and the most scenic of coastlines and, if that were not enough to tempt you, […]
Another year, another Valentine’s Day! So, if you want to do something really special for the one you love, consider a weekend in Provence, one of the most beautiful regions in that most romantic of countries, France. Provence is not just for Summer. In fact, February, a month offering daily temperatures of around 13-15 degrees […]
With Christmas over it’s natural that thoughts will soon start to drift to all the exciting prospects in store for 2018, and with it thoughts of a well-deserved holiday in the sun (which no doubt feature all the more strongly when it’s cold and wet outside!). So, to get you in the mood for 2018, […]
It’s almost that time of year… Christmas is on the horizon and I for one can’t wait! It’s a wonderful time to visit Provence with plenty of things to see and do. An almost palpable sense of excitement can be felt as people take time out to visit the numerous Christmas markets and partake in […]
When you think of Provence you might well think of warm, sunny days, lavender fields and cold glasses of Rose. With only a couple of weeks until November and the real onset of Winter here in Provence, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to dispel the myth that the only really good time to visit […]
