Authentic Provence Blog

Designs By Paolo Buffa

August 6, 2018

Paolo Buffa, a lesson of the inventive Classicism The Italian architect and furniture designer Paolo Buffa (1903–1970) is a lesson in refinement, and inventive classicism. Whether producing furnishings a luxurious hotel or decorating sophisticated villas in the area of Lombardy, Northern Italy, Buffa’s work was marked by unmistakable polished charm and often of a bizarre and humorous appearance. He had…read more

AP Daily, Travel

The Hofstadl

June 7, 2018

A beautiful 18th-Century Tyrolean chalet nestled in the Austrian alps, now on the market. A mid-eighteenth century three story Tyrolean chalet sits nestled in the high valley at the foot of Mount Grossglockner, 2.5 miles from the center of the picturesque Austrian village of Heiligenblut. This gem has been relocated, rebuilt and completely updated by Austrian farmhouse restorers, Austrian-born Wolfgang…read more

AP Daily, Culture

Daniel Clesse 1932 – 2016

May 25, 2018

Daniel Clesse and his wife Christiane Clesse (Christiane Bastide) were two artists living in Paris, France together. Daniel grew up with a love for drawing as a child while Christiane developed her passion for the arts a bit later in her teens. He had studied in Paris at the Beaux Arts and the colors he used in his paintings reflect…read more

Culture, Garden Antiques

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