Authentic Provence Blog

A History of the Garden Gnome

May 3, 2018

Small gnome statues began appearing in Europe in the early 1600’s as a sign of good luck. The garden or lawn gnomes as we know them today, appeared in Germany in the mid to late 1800’s and were always made of clay. Gnomes first appeared in the gardens of England in the 1840’s and from there their popularity began to take…read more

AP Daily

A Whimsical Cook Book from l’Oustau de Baumanière

April 20, 2018

We have just returned from Provence, France and one of the places I always return to, is the Oustau de Beaumanière. (Please view our blog dated 3.24.2017). In the hotel’s boutique, which has a very carefully selected array of exquisite products, I came across a small cook book called Vegetable dishes from l’Oustau de Baeumanière by Jean-Andre Charial, with very…read more

Culture, Travel

French Village Fountains

April 10, 2018

The limestone fountains were a social gathering point where the women worked, washing clothes or vegetables. The men typically came to the fountains to discuss politics or to collect water for the animals or for the gardens. Still today people rest in front of these refreshing and charming treasures to drink the water from the spring or just to admire…read more

Culture, Garden Antiques, Travel

The history of the Vase d’Anduze

March 19, 2018

The town of Anduze in the South of France is very well known for it's colorful glazed and large garden planters. Many of the Manor houses, large parks, and historical sites are decorated with these beautiful artisanal urns. The weight of these urns can be up to 240 LBS, and traditionally trees are planted into them, such as small orange,…read more

Culture, Travel

La Louve Gardens

March 7, 2018

If you love the gardens you will need to visit La Louve, in the delightful hilltop town of Bonnieux in Provence. This exceptional garden combines garden history and culture in southern France. Nicole de Vesian had designed La Louve for herself in the mid-1990s, but she is also responsible for many gardens in this area of Southern France. Working as a…read more

Culture

Santons and Christmas Cribs of Provence

January 23, 2018

These Christmas crib figures or Santons are an authentic folk tradition, and many provençal homes still maintain elaborate Nativity cribs with the santons today. The crèche provençale, or provençal crib, has been around for centuries, but the significance of the santon (which means in provençal "little saint") began immediately after the French Revolution of 1789. Then churches were forcibly closed and sacked. Large…read more

Travel

The Gardens of the Chateau La Ballue

September 20, 2017

Welcome to La Ballue Jardin, Brittany I followed the winding lanes of the Mont-Saint-Michel countryside which lead to one of the most magnificent gardens in twenty-first century France. This is a charming château, perfectly preserved on the exterior, and grand and elegant on the interior. Situated among dramatic theatrical gardens, the beautiful 17th century château is a symphony of classical architecture, exquisite décor and…read more

AP Daily, Culture

Lavender Wands, Handmade “en Provence”

May 19, 2017

Authentic Provence is always searching for new ideas in regards to room fragrances. We found these precious lavender wands and spheres which are perfect for any occasion. I have seen them used as table decoration offering a wand to each guest and this was a magnificent table setting! The yearly crop of the lavender is harvested between the July 10th…read more

Travel

Gardens of Bomarzo

May 8, 2017

Bomarzo is a town and commune of the province of Viterbo (Lazio, central Italy), in the lower valley of the Tiber, approx. 68 kilometers north-northwest of Rome. The History of Bomarzo and the Park of the Monsters. The bishopric was established around 400 AD, which in 700 gained territory from the suppressed Diocese of Ferento. It was a historical fiefdom…read more

Travel

The Umbrian Town of Spello

May 3, 2017

In the beautiful Umbrian town of Spello, which is known for Pinturicchio’s frescoes of the early sixteenth century that are inspired by the New Testament, in the Baglioni Chapel in Santa Maria Maggiore church, the Infiorate di Spello takes place during the Sunday after Corpus Domini (Corpus Christi, 26 May 2016). Authentic Provence always attend this event. The ninth Sunday…read more