South of France Memories (A Guide)
HELLO FRIENDS,
Have you ever read A YEAR IN PROVENCE by Peter Mayle? If so, doesn’t it make you wanna while away your quarantine in the South of France?
It's making me think of my first time there. I was fourteen. We were visiting my grandparents—who lived just outside Geneva at the time—and we took a little road trip south.
As I think back, I’m realizing that this was the trip that fueled my passion for travel. I remember telling my friends all about it after I got home and they caught the bug, too. We would daydream together at lunch about all the places we wanted to go…
CHARMING PLACES I REMEMBER VISITING
Auberge Les Orangers
The charming provençale inn where we stayed. We ate delicious breakfasts of baguettes with hot chocolate and fresh-squeezed orange juice (made from the oranges grown on the property!) We slept in simple, charming beds with gingham covered headboards. It was oh-so-charming and not too expensive, and from the looks of it, it’s still that way today!
St. Paul de Vence
A super picturesque medieval walled village. Touristy, but still worth going lately, from what I’ve heard. This is where you’ll find La Colombe d’Or, a gorgeous restaurant and hotel that’s been there for ages. Back in the day, they used to trade with artists like Picasso, Baldwin, and Matisse for food. All that world class art is still on display today!
Biot
Famous for its factory that makes glassware with little bubbles inside. My mom bought a set of their pale blue fluted glasses that reminds me of our trip every time we use them. I’d love to buy a set of my own one day.
PLACES I REMEMBER WISHING WE COULD GO (THESE ARE STILL ON MY BUCKET LIST!)
Fondation Maeght
Aimé and Marguerite Maeght, a couple who worked together as publishers and art dealers, created one of the most amazing private collections of art in the world. They asked artists like Chagall, Miro, Braques, Calder, etc. to create site specific sculptures for the beautiful gardens surrounding their home. It is now a museum open to the public.
La Chapelle du Rosaire
A beautiful little chapel designed entirely by Matisse, down to the blue and green stained glass windows.
AU REVOIR
If you feel like a little armchair inspo from Paris, and you haven’t seen my book, Paris by Design yet, now might be a good time. ;) There are interviews with over 20 Parisian creatives, for starters…
A bientôt!
x Eva
Image credits from top to bottom: The Architectural Review, Auberge des Orangers, NYTimes & Vogue Paris, Fondation Maeght, See Antibes.
This post was first published as a Letter from Eva on April 23. 2020.