Daily Life in Provence

Gardening Tips in Provence

The cocktail drinker's guide to gardening - November

Born in Hampshire, England, James Clay is an artist, sculptor and landscape gardener. He lived all over the world before settling in St. Rémy 16 years ago. In this amusing and entertaining series of articles, James shares his 15 years of gardening experience (and somewhat more of cocktail drinking) in Provence with you. The month of November brings you Olives and Martinis! more...

The French Educational System

From toddler to university graduate

In France, education is the responsibility of the state and is provided through a series of state (i.e., public) schools, although private schools are also available. Education is mandatory up to the age of 16 and is free until the age of 18. The Ministère de l'Education Nationale (Ministry of Education) manages all aspects of education ... more...

Transferring into the French School System

What to expect and what you need to know

It can often be quite a traumatic and daunting step when moving one's child from their 'mother tongue' educational system into an entirely new one. The good news for those moving to France is that the French state education system is highly regarded both in France and at an international level ... more...

French School Grade Equivalents

Which class should my child attend?

Trying to determine which school grade your child should attend in their new school system is often one of the most challenging aspects of moving into a foreign school system. France, the UK and the US all have their own school grade structures ... more...

Bilingual Schools in Provence

Options for Expats

IBS Classroom

For expats wishing to ensure their children are prepared for both the French Baccalauréat and either the English or American university system, there are a number of bilingual international schools in the Provence region offering preparation from an early age right through to the age of 18 ... more...

Raising Bilingual Children: The Most Successful Methods

by Christina Bosemark

Have you ever noticed how poorly many children handle change and how they thrive when on familiar turf? When you've read that same story every night for two months, you'll know what I mean. Certainly, kids learn languages under the most chaotic conditions -- just look at the average dinner table scene -- but some predictability within the chaos spells safety and security, which in turn promotes learning. more...

Full Immersion Language Schools and Programs

Is it Really Sink or Swim?

Count yourself lucky if you have access to any form of immersion program in your minority language. The real advantage of these is that the child hears the language spoken by many different people and during a wide variety of activities. But, the "sink or swim" aspect of full immersion worries some, as does a value system rooted in a foreign culture ... more...

Art and design courses for students in Provence

Savannah College of Art and Design in Lacoste

The village of Lacoste, situated in the Luberon valley in Provence, is home to the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). The school buildings, which cover more than one-third of the town, date back to the 12th, 15th and 16th centuries. Within these ancient walls, the SCAD-Lacoste program offers a number of modern amenities, including computer labs with internet and email access ... more...

Driving in France

What you need to know

When starting to drive in a foreign country, it is of course important to take extra care, particularly if the driving practice differs from that in your own country. For the English this means adapting to driving on the right side of the road, and for Americans this usually means learning to drive stick shift ... more...

Visas, Residency and Documentation Required for Living & Working in France

What you need to know to reside here

British citizens need a valid passport but no longer need a work permit or visa to move to France. They also no longer need to apply for a resident permit as in the past, known as the Carte de Séjour. US citizens moving to France for more than three months will need to obtain ... more...

Retiring to Provence

Can I really fulfill the dream?

E.U. Citizen Voting Rights in France

I now live in France, does this mean I can vote?

If you are a EU citizen and a resident in France (primary residents only), you have the right to vote in both European elections and local communal elections, but you but you do not have the right to vote in national elections. You cannot have voting rights in more than one country ... more...

Absentee Voting in France for U.S. Citizens

Don't Forget to Vote

You now reside in France, yet as a U.S. citizen you do not have the right to vote in France on a national level. Still want to make sure your voice is heard? Even if you live abroad, it is strongly recommended that you register to vote. It is also strongly advised that you request absentee ballots as early as possible within the year that you wish to vote in order to ensure you will receive them in time to vote ... more...

Markets in Provence

A list of outdoor markets in the area

Visiting an open-air market in Provence is one of life's little pleasures. Market day has been a way of life for Provençals, as well as most Europeans, for generations. The market serves as much as a social function as an opportunity to shop, bringing together the community each week ... more...

English bookstores in the South of France

We all know that moving to France entails learning a new language and therefore making the effort to speak and read in this new tongue as much as we possibly can. But no matter how motivated one might be to learn a new langauge, there are moments you just feel like reading something in your mother tongue. Here is a list of English bookstores in the south of France that can help ... more...

The Game of Pétanque

A French institution

Pétanque is without a doubt one of the most popular French pastimes, and it is certainly the most popular pastime in Provence, where it goes hand in hand with a glass of Pastis. Pétanque is a form of boules where one throws steel balls as close as possible to a small wooden ball called the cochonnet in an attempt to knock the opponents boules out of the way ... more...

A look at the climate in Provence

All sunshine?

Provence is blessed with mild weather throughout most of the year, particularly those areas along the coast. It isn't all sunshine though, as the winter months can be quite cold when the infamous mistral wind begins to blow. In recent years, the summer months have at times experienced rather hot temperatures - known in France as 'la canicule ... more...

The Infamous Mistral Wind in Provence

That fierce, cold wind