Essentially French

Essentially French Welcome to Essentially French, your gateway to the enchanting region of Provence. Book your spot now for an extraordinary journey through the heart of Provence!

Discover Provence like never before with Essentially French's exclusive 5-night, 6-day tours! Immerse yourself in the charm and beauty of this stunning region, while staying in our lovingly restored 13th-century provincial home. With a maximum of six guests, you'll enjoy an intimate and personalised experience, complete with tailored itineraries, gourmet meals, and unforgettable adventures. Come and visit us at essentiallyfrench.com.au

There is art everywhere in Provence.In Avignon, it might be an artist painting in the square. In a village, a little gal...
06/09/2026

There is art everywhere in Provence.

In Avignon, it might be an artist painting in the square. In a village, a little gallery tucked down a side street. At a market, original paintings propped against an old stone wall.

Brendan and I always seem to stop and have a look.

It is part of what makes exploring Provence so enjoyable. You never quite know what you are going to come across.

And very often, those unplanned finds become the things you remember most.
essentiallyfrench.com.au

A few days in Provence should feel like this.A village to wander through, a beautiful lunch, time to stop for coffee, pl...
05/09/2026

A few days in Provence should feel like this.

A village to wander through, a beautiful lunch, time to stop for coffee, plenty to see, and no need to rush from one place to the next.

Our stays are designed around the Provence Brendan and I know and love, with a maximum of six guests staying with us in our home in Mazan.

Five nights, six days, and everything organised for you.
essentiallyfrench.com.au

Avignon has a special connection for us.Our 13th century home in Mazan was once home to Cardinal Hugues de Saint-Martial...
04/09/2026

Avignon has a special connection for us.

Our 13th century home in Mazan was once home to Cardinal Hugues de Saint-Martial, an important figure during the Avignon papacy.

So when we visit the Palais des Papes with guests, it always feels a little more personal. His story is part of the history of our house, and part of the extraordinary history of Avignon too.

One of the things I love most about living in a home this old is discovering where its story leads.

The grape harvest has begun around our village.We are surrounded by beautiful vineyards here in Mazan, and at this time ...
03/09/2026

The grape harvest has begun around our village.

We are surrounded by beautiful vineyards here in Mazan, and at this time of year the tractors are suddenly everywhere, moving between the vineyards and the wineries with their loads of freshly picked grapes.
The vendange is underway and there is activity everywhere.

For our September and October guests, it is a great time to be here. You see the vineyards being worked, the grapes coming in and a side of Provence that you simply don’t see at other times of the year.

And, of course, living in the middle of Rhône wine country means we are never very far from the finished product either!

essentiallyfrench.com.au

'sTravel

One of the experiences we are planning for our Special Edition stay in Provence, 27 May to 1 June 2027, is a hands on co...
02/09/2026

One of the experiences we are planning for our Special Edition stay in Provence, 27 May to 1 June 2027, is a hands on cooking experience.

Not a demonstration where you sit and watch, but time spent in the kitchen, learning, preparing and enjoying the sort of food that belongs here in Provence.

This particular stay has been designed around some of the things we think make Provence so memorable. Beautiful villages, wonderful food and wine, time around the table, and experiences that take you a little further than simply visiting the sights.

There will be just five guests staying with Brendan and I in our 13th century home in Provence for five nights, 6 days.

If you have been thinking about Provence, but would rather experience it as part of a small group than organise everything yourself, this may be the one.

27 May to 1 June 2027
5 nights, 6 days
Maximum 5 guests

Full details are on our website. Special Edition - A Taste of Provence

essentiallyfrench.com.au

Sunflowers and Provence. It is hard to separate the two.You can be driving along an ordinary country road and suddenly t...
01/09/2026

Sunflowers and Provence. It is hard to separate the two.

You can be driving along an ordinary country road and suddenly there they are, an entire field of yellow stretching away towards the hills. No sign, no grand viewpoint, just one of those very Provençal scenes that makes you slow the car down and have another look.

We never really tire of them.

And while lavender tends to get most of the attention, I think the sunflower fields are every bit as beautiful. Perhaps because you don’t go looking for them. You simply turn a corner and find them.

One of the many things we love sharing with our guests when we are out exploring Provence.

essentiallyfrench.com.au

'sProvenceTravel

There is always something to do when your home is nearly 830 years old.Shutters need repairing, repainting and occasiona...
31/08/2026

There is always something to do when your home is nearly 830 years old.

Shutters need repairing, repainting and occasionally a fair bit of persuasion, but this is one of the things we genuinely love about owning an old house.

For us, it is about bringing it back to life, little by little, while keeping it in the best condition we can for the years ahead.

Brendan has repaired and painted so many shutters here now that I suspect he could almost do them in his sleep. Some are straightforward. Others most definitely are not.

But there is something very satisfying about standing back afterwards and seeing another part of this beautiful old house cared for and restored.

It is never really finished. And I think that is part of the joy of it.

essentiallyfrench.com.au

I have never been very interested in things that look brand new.Give me an old French table with worn edges, peeling pai...
30/08/2026

I have never been very interested in things that look brand new.

Give me an old French table with worn edges, peeling paint and a surface marked by years of use and I am very happy.

Every table in our home in Mazan has a story. Some we found in brocantes, some were already old when they came to us, and almost all of them carry the little imperfections that made us want them in the first place.

The same goes for old iron, faded paint, battered shutters, stone, linen and furniture that has plainly had a life before us.

I think that is part of what I love so much about Provence. Nothing needs to be perfect to be beautiful. In fact, quite often, the wear is the best bit.

And when our guests stay with us, they are living amongst all of it rather than simply looking at it from a distance.

essentiallyfrench.com.au

One of the loveliest things about doing this is seeing Provence through our guests’ eyes.We know these villages, markets...
29/08/2026

One of the loveliest things about doing this is seeing Provence through our guests’ eyes.

We know these villages, markets and little back roads so well, but sharing them with someone who is seeing them for the first time makes us appreciate them all over again.

A market morning. A village we’ve wandered through dozens of times. Lunch somewhere we love. Coming home to Mazan at the end of the day.

That, for me, is what Essentially French is really about.

Small groups, a very personal stay, and sharing the part of Provence we are lucky enough to call home.

May and September/October 2027
Maximum 6 guests

essentiallyfrench.com.au

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Mazan
84380

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