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Shutters & Sunflowers

Travel tips from an English girl in California, in love with Provence.

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  • Uzes
    • Visit
    • Stay
    • Eat
    • Activities
    • Nearby
    • Stories
    • At the Terrace restaurant at Hôtel de Caumont, Aix-en-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

      Restaurants we love in Uzès, Aix-en-Provence & St-Rémy-de-Provence

      , June 10, 2022
    • Uzès where Shutters and Sunflowers began

      admin, October 4, 2021
    • Shutters of Provence in Lourmarin Provence, France

      The Shutters of Provence

      , September 10, 2019
    • Speaking at The Pilsudski Institute about the Poles who cracked Enigma

      , May 2, 2019
  • Lourmarin
    • Visit
    • Stay
    • Eat
    • Activities
    • Nearby
    • Stories
    • Forever in love with Lourmarin

      , October 1, 2025
    • Our street in Lourmarin, Luberon, Vaucluse, Provence, France

      Lourmarin through the eyes of a child

      , August 9, 2024
    • Lourmarin, Luberon, Provence, Vaucluse, France

      Carmel, California and Lourmarin, Provence, the places I call home

      , March 30, 2023
    • A view of Loumrarin, Luberon, Provence, France

      Lourmarin, The Luberon, Provence, Travel guide

      admin, June 21, 2022
  • Around Provence
    • Cities of Provence
    • Luberon
    • Var
    • Bouches-du-Rhône
    • Côte d’Azur
    • Languedoc-Rousillon
    • The Vaucluse
    • Serre Chevalier sign , on the slopes above Chantemerle

      Skiing in Serre Chevalier, in the French Alps

      , April 5, 2026
    • Valley of the Clarée at Col du Granon, site of WWII operations,les Hautes-Alpes, Serre Chevalier, Provence, France

      History in Les Hautes-Alpes ~ Col du Granon & Mont Dauphine

      , November 1, 2025
    • Entrance to the old Cité Vauban, Briançon, Serre Chevalier, Les Hautes-Alpes, Provence, France

      Cité Vauban, Sébastien Vauban’s historic city at Briançon.

      , October 27, 2025
    • Mountains in Serre Chevalier, Les Hautes-Alpes, Provence, France

      A trip to Serre Chevalier in Les Hautes-Alpes

      , October 15, 2025
  • Britain
    • London
    • An Hour from London
    • The Cotswolds
    • Yorkshire
    • Scotland
    • Other Places
    • Spring blossoms in Lourmarin

      Spring in Provence, England and Lake Tahoe, California

      , March 9, 2021
    • Speaking at The Pilsudski Institute about the Poles who cracked Enigma

      , May 2, 2019
    • The Control Tower at Greenham Common, Nebury, Berkshire, England

      The story of Greenham Common, England

      , October 12, 2018
    • Front of Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, England, birth place of Sir Winston Churchill

      Blenheim Palace, birth place of Sir Winston Churchill

      , February 20, 2018
  • Europe
    • France
    • Italy
    • Germany
    • Austria
    • Netherlands
    • Belgium
    • Denmark
    • Halle aux Grains in Auvillar, Tarn-et-Garonne, France

      Day 8 & 9: Auvillar, Puylaurens & Aigues-Mortes, headed to Provence

      caroline_longstaffe, July 29, 2026
    • Arched Roman city entrance in Saintes, Western France

      Day 7: On the Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim trail from Saintes to Saint Émilion.

      caroline_longstaffe, July 13, 2026
    • Halles de Clisson, Clisson,Pays de la Loire region of the Loire-Atlantique, France

      Day 6 in Brittany: Rochefort-en-Terre & Clisson, saved by an American & the Italians

      caroline_longstaffe, July 8, 2026
    • Hotel du bac, Combrit, Brittany, France

      Camaret-sur-mer and Locronan and Brittany’s medieval city of Vannes

      caroline_longstaffe, July 3, 2026
  • California & USA
    • San Francisco
    • Carmel
    • Napa & Sonoma Wine Country
    • Lake Tahoe
    • The Bay Area
    • Other Places in California
    • Elsewhere in USA
    • Building a house in Carmel-by-the Sea

      Busy building a house in Carmel-by-the-Sea

      , August 1, 2024
    • The Carmel Mission Basilica, founded in 1770

      The story of Father Junípero Serra and the Carmel Mission

      , April 16, 2023
    • Lourmarin, Luberon, Provence, Vaucluse, France

      Carmel, California and Lourmarin, Provence, the places I call home

      , March 30, 2023
    • Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, USA

      Crater Lake ~ the stunning finale to our American Road Trip

      , July 8, 2021
  • Global
    • New Zealand
    • Australia
    • Turkey
    • Dubai
    • Singapore
    • Clay Cliffs at Omarama, South Island New Zealand

      Days 20-21: South Island New Zealand~Tasman Glacier Lake, Ōmarama, Cromwell & wineries

      , February 6, 2025
    • On Hooker Trail, Aoraki / Mount Cook, South Island, New Zealand

      Day 19: South Island New Zealand~Mount Cook

      , February 3, 2025
    • Cardona Hotel, Cardona, South Island, New Zealand

      Day 18: South Island of New Zealand ~ Cardrona & Wanaka

      , January 26, 2025
    • At mountains where Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit were filmed near Paradise, near Glenorchy, near Queenstown, South Island New Zealand

      Day 17: South Island of New Zealand, Glenorchy, searching for The Hobbit

      , November 22, 2024
  • Travel Guides
    • A view of Loumrarin, Luberon, Provence, France

      Lourmarin, The Luberon, Provence, Travel guide

      admin, June 21, 2022
    • Plan a stay in Lourmarin, Luberon, Vaucluse, Provence

      Plan a stay in Lourmarin the Luberon, Provence

      , May 2, 2017
    • Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California

      San Francisco – ‘The City by the Bay’ – Travel Guide

      , February 27, 2017
    • Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, USA Travel Guide PDF

      Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, Travel Guide

      admin, January 31, 2016
  • Stories of Life
    • Building a house in Carmel-by-the Sea

      Busy building a house in Carmel-by-the-Sea

      , August 1, 2024
    • View of Lourmarin Village, Luberon, Vaucluse, Provence, France

      A million miles away

      , May 5, 2022
    • Spring blossoms in Lourmarin

      Spring in Provence, England and Lake Tahoe, California

      , March 9, 2021
    • Dreaming of Christmas

      Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas yet to come

      , December 5, 2020
Snow for Christmas in Lourmarin, Luberon, Vaucluse, Provence
DiscoverLourmarinStories from Lourmarin

Preparations for Christmas in Lourmarin

, December 6, 2017

Lourmarin is ready for Fête de Noël. Frosty white fir trees have appeared along our petite rue below a canopy of lights. Throughout the village, once night has fallen, these fine strings of twinkle line the streets in rows of sparkling ribbons. …

Read more 12 Comments
Marché de Noël stall in the Christmas market in Aix-en-Provence, Bouche du Rhone, Provence, France
Aix-en-ProvenceLuberonNearby Lourmarin

Christmas Traditions & Marchés de Noël in Provence

, December 5, 2017

It’s December in Provence, snow has already sprinkled its magic across the villages and as the nights draw in and daylights fades each day, a bitter chill drapes itself like a frozen mantle across the dark golden, sprawling vineyards. Everywhere …

Read more 4 Comments
Carrières de Lumières 2017 Bosch, Brueghel, Arcimboldo, Les Baux de Provence,Provence, France
Around ProvenceBouches-du-RhôneLes Baux-de-Provence

Carrières de Lumières Bosch, Brueghel, Arcimboldo, ‘from the fantastic to the wonderful’

, November 30, 2017

Yesterday was special, leaving our paintbrushes and plumbing issues behind, we drove towards the jagged hills of Les Alpilles through Le plaine de la Crau, winding our way through the lush valley floor of silvery, green olive trees and golden …

Read more 4 Comments
The Lourmarin clock tower in autumn, Luberon, Provence
DiscoverStories from LourmarinStories of Life

Our house in Lourmarin Part 2~ when all is not so wonderful!

, November 20, 2017

Don’t you ever wonder when you ask your friends how they are and they always say ‘wonderful’? Really, always wonderful, no-one’s life is wonderful all of the time, is it? I know I’m a sharer, I write a blog after …

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View through the shutters of a maison de village in Lourmarin, Provence, France
DiscoverLourmarinStories of Life

Our house in Lourmarin, Provence

, November 9, 2017

Back in March I wrote about the excitement of returning somewhere special, to Lourmarin, quoting from Daphne du Maurier’s ‘Rebecca’“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.” I also mentioned that I had an appointment with a real estate agent…. …

Read more 42 Comments
The Spread Eagle Hotel, Midhurst, Sussex England
An Hour from LondonBritainExplore

‘The Spread Eagle’ Midhurst, an historic English Inn

, October 22, 2017

The Spread Eagle Hotel can be found in the pretty market town of Midhurst, West Sussex, in the heart of the beautiful South Downs, just over an hour south of London. Steeped in history, it is one of the oldest …

Read more 2 Comments
Chelsea Properties, Chelsea, London, England
BritainExploreLondon

Chelsea, London

, October 7, 2017

Chelsea, London, SW1, one of the most exclusive and of course expensive addresses in London, if not Britain. Close to the River Thames, Chelsea boasts streets of grand mansions and delightful mews properties and some of the capital’s most high …

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Chateau of Monbazillac, near Bergerac, Perigord, France
ExploreFrance

Fairy tale châteaux, medieval villages and wine in France’s Dordogne!

, October 2, 2017

Turreted medieval castles towering over hillsides which tumble down into bountiful plateaus resplendent with vineyards, along which is threaded a mighty, twisting river peppered with a collection of picturesque, medieval villages. The former stage for swashbuckling adventurers, elegant ladies in …

Read more 7 Comments
Cobbled street in Grambois, Luberon, Provence
DiscoverLuberonNearby Lourmarin

Grambois a tiny village in Provence’s Luberon

, September 26, 2017

I always love to discover a new village in the Luberon. On an previous trip we had eaten in the delightful and delicious, family run restaurant and hotel, L’Auberge des Tilleuls which sits at the bottom of the tiny village of …

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The Rear & Terrace at Harewood House, Yorkshire, England
BritainExploreYorkshire

Harewood House, the setting for ‘VICTORIA’

, September 11, 2017

If, like me, you enjoy becoming immersed in classic period dramas such as ‘The Crown’, ‘Downtown Abbey’ or ‘Poldark’, which, biased as I am, the Brits excel in producing, have you ever wondered where they are filmed? It is rarely …

Read more 2 Comments
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Rent Our Home InLourmarin

Provence

ABOUT CAROLINEBORN UNDER A WANDERING STAR

I was born under a wandering star, an English girl living in California, in love with Provence. I have lived near San Francisco for 17 years but in 2012 spent 20 unforgettable months in Provence, first in beautiful, medieval Uzès, and then in the Luberon’s fairy-tale village of Lourmarin. It was magical and inspired me to write Shutters and Sunflowers; my insights into the local charm of places I love, Provence, England, California and places I travel, suggestions for where to stay, to eat and to visit. Join me and be inspired too, there's a big world waiting to be explored, let me know what you find!

ExploringPROVENCE, BRITAIN, CALIFORNIA & OTHER PLACES

Hôtel de la Beursaudièr, Chablis, France
ExploreFrance

Driving through France

, August 18, 2022

We have driven through France, north to south and back, (about 1000km each way), more times than I can remember. As children, both our families took holidays driving through France, often headed for Spain. Slightly crammed between siblings, before cars …

Read more 6 Comments
Lavender fields of Bonnieux, Luberon, Vaucluse, Provence, France

The lavender of the Luberon, Provence

, July 25, 2022
Around ProvenceExploreLuberon
Château Léoube entrance by the vines's,Bormes-les-Mimosas, Var Provence, France

Léoube, Provençal rosé enticing England and California

, July 13, 2022
Around ProvenceCôte d'AzurExploreVar

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Shutters & SunflowersAbout the Story

I started this blog as a diary whilst living in Provence, calling it ‘Shutters and Sunflowers’ because they both come to mind when I think of Provence. It has developed into a travel resource, about Provence, California, Britain and wherever I travel. There are travel guides for Uzès, Lourmarin, San Francisco, Carmel and Lake Tahoe; ideas for boutique accommodation, where to sample delicious, regional food, advice about what to see and historical insights. I don't pretend to know all the options but write about what touches my heart; rows of Provencal shutters, fields of sunflowers; about ‘living the journey, not waiting to get to the destination.’ I hope Shutters and Sunflowers will inspire you to visit some of the beautiful places that I have been fortunate enough to go to, do get in touch if I can be of any help in planning your special trips.

Interact With UsMOST COMMENTED

View through the shutters of a maison de village in Lourmarin, Provence, France
42

Our house in Lourmarin, Provence

The Control Tower at Greenham Common, Nebury, Berkshire, England
28

The story of Greenham Common, England

Rainbow over Mt Diablo, Danville California
28

Unprecedented times, stay safe & well my friends……

The Sunflower Field, a World War II novel about the Polish code breakers who first broke the Enigma code
27

The Sunflower Field ~ the story of who first cracked the Enigma Code

24

Our American Road Trip

SyndicationPublished Elsewhere

A collection of articles from Shutters & Sunflowers published elsewhere on the web.

The Sunflower Field World War II Novel set in Provence

Perfectly Provence features ‘The Sunflower Field’, my World War II novel set in France

, August 11, 2017
Published Elsewhere
Sunflowers of Provence, France

Provence Travel Tips from Shutters and Sunflowers interview with Perfectly Provence

admin, January 29, 2016
Published Elsewhere
Interview with Perfectly Provence

Perfectly Provence, Shutters and Sunflowers, The Provencal Landscape

admin, December 2, 2015
Published Elsewhere
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