As anyone who has spent time in Provence knows, there is an abundance of wonderful things to see and do in this beautiful corner of the world. It’s a paradise for anyone who loves the sun, mountains, beaches, gardens, cuisine, wine, history, art, music, architecture, pure relaxation—the list goes on and on. I have notebooks full of the soul filling Provence places and experiences I return to again and again.
One endroit (place) that is top on my list is St. Rémy-de-Provence. It is small and charming and has everything one could want in a southern French town. You can walk from one end to the other in about fifteen minutes and find something interesting to look at—or taste!—every few feet. And St. Rémy’s Wednesday morning marché (market) is one of the best in the south of France.
One spot I never miss there is the bookshop and newspaper store. La librairie (paradoxically enough, this word means ‘bookstore’—la bibliothèque is ‘library’ in French) in St. Rémy is a must-do. While it may not sound at all like an activity to bookmark, it remains one of my favorite itinerary stops. The owners have specialized in books on Provence—both in French and in English—on a wide array of topics. From Provençal cuisine to landscapes to history to pottery to art to decor to gardens to novels to memoirs to local stories and legends, they have it all. The postcard selection is pas mal (not bad, i.e. good!). And if you are looking for maps or guidebooks to the area, they have those too.
For those who like French cuisine, the cookbook section is worth a special look as they carry livres de cuisine (cookbooks) by local chefs. Books on olives and olive oils and other local products have also found their way into my French book collection.
Since so much of actual Provence is eye-candy extraordinaire, a fair number of the bookstore’s offerings are more ‘coffee table’ type books with luscious photographs…of the region, of restored country houses, of pottery, of food, of the local colors. I have acquired many of these as well (yes, bookshelf space chez moi IS an issue!).
A couple of books that I especially treasure are not filled with photographs—they are illustrated with art. Si j’avais un mas en Provence (If I had a country house in Provence) is an adorable book about many a Provence lover’s dream—owning a house and piece of earth in the south of France. The artist-author includes her watercolors of every detail of Provence architecture, landscapes, and the little things that make life special there. This book makes you want to consult the Provence real estate listings immediately.
A propos de l’art (speaking of art), if you are inspired by painting or are already an artist, there is a book solely devoted to discovering Provence through watercolor painting. Peindre la Provence à l’aquarelle is a unique and original kind of guidebook to southern France. You can even use this book to plan your itinerary and Provence sights to see—paintbrushes or no paintbrushes.
All this to say, it is clear I love books and I love Provence. So this little shop in St. Rémy is a bit of heaven on earth for me. You might find it so too!
SAINT REMY PRESSE
12 Boulevard Mirabeau
13210 St-Rémy-de-Provence, FRANCE
French Take-Out™ ~ La France à emporter
If you are interested in a Provence painting experience, Provence resident and artist Jill Steenhuis will be in Dallas giving a painting workshop at the end of October. Jill is an American who has been living in Provence for many years and practicing her art there. She and her husband own a lovely home just outside Aix-en-Provence. Here are the workshop details:
Two Day ArtistsWorkshop with Jill Steenhuis
October 26 and October 27
9:00 – 12:00 (then lunch) 1:00 – 4:00
Cost: $250.00
Location: Ellen McDowell’s home, 4302 Enfield Dr., Dallas, TX 75220
This workshop will concentrate on color – how to mix a harmonious palette in oil paint, then put it to use in the landscape en plein air or still lifes and/or interiors if weather does not permit being out of doors. The focus is on color and the true creative process of taking in nature through the senses to activate one’s unique inner poetry. The workshop is about stretching oneself to experience the link with nature in a deeper way than just copying it, allowing Grace to intervene.
For more information on Jill, her Provence art experiences and her teaching philosophy, go to www.jillsteenhuis.com and click on “Workshops”, then click on “Workshop Description”. To register, a deposit of $50.00 is needed by October 20 to confirm your spot in the workshop. You can send check to Jill Steenhuis c/o Ellen McDowell to above address. And if you can’t fit this into your Dallas schedule, we may just have to include a workshop with Jill on a future French Affaires Provence trip!