• Subscribe Here
  • Contact Me
  • A VILLAGE HOUSE FOR RENT IN PROVENCE
  • The Sunflower Field

Shutters & Sunflowers

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

  • Home
  • 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

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

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

      The Shutters of Provence

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

      Caroline Longstaffe, May 2, 2019
  • Lourmarin
    • Visit
    • Stay
    • Eat
    • Activities
    • Nearby
    • Stories
    • Our street in Lourmarin, Luberon, Vaucluse, Provence, France

      Lourmarin through the eyes of a child

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

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

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

      Lourmarin, The Luberon, Provence, Travel guide

      admin, June 21, 2022
    • 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

      Caroline Longstaffe, June 10, 2022
  • Around Provence
    • Cities of Provence
    • Luberon
    • Var
    • Bouches-du-Rhône
    • Côte d’Azur
    • Languedoc-Rousillon
    • The Vaucluse
    • Outside Maison Empereur, Marseille

      La Maison Empereur, Marseille

      Caroline Longstaffe, June 5, 2025
    • Bassin de L'étang, Cucuron, Luberon, Vaucluse, Provence, France

      Cucuron, la petite village près de Lourmarin

      Caroline Longstaffe, September 16, 2024
    • Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

      Caroline Longstaffe, August 30, 2024
    • Gorges du Verdon, Parc Naturel Régional du Verdon, Provence, France

      Les Gorges du Verdon

      Caroline Longstaffe, August 19, 2024
  • Britain
    • London
    • An Hour from London
    • The Cotswolds
    • Yorkshire
    • Scotland
    • Other Places
    • Spring blossoms in Lourmarin

      Spring in Provence, England and Lake Tahoe, California

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

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

      The story of Greenham Common, England

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

      Blenheim Palace, birth place of Sir Winston Churchill

      Caroline Longstaffe, February 20, 2018
  • Europe
    • France
    • Italy
    • Germany
    • Austria
    • Netherlands
    • Belgium
    • Denmark
    • Hôtel de la Beursaudièr, Chablis, France

      Driving through France

      Caroline Longstaffe, August 18, 2022
    • The graves at the Canadien Normandy memorial near Arromanche

      Arromanches and The Memorials of Normandy

      Caroline Longstaffe, June 1, 2022
    • Gold beach, Normandy site of the British troop Landings on D-Day, June 6th 1944

      D-Day: Operation Overlord ~ The Normandy Beaches

      Caroline Longstaffe, May 22, 2022
    • The Knights Templars and cheese of the Aveyron

      Caroline Longstaffe, October 20, 2021
  • 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

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

      The story of Father Junípero Serra and the Carmel Mission

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

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

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

      Crater Lake ~ the stunning finale to our American Road Trip

      Caroline Longstaffe, 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

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

      Day 19: South Island New Zealand~Mount Cook

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

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

      Caroline Longstaffe, 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

      Caroline Longstaffe, 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

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

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

      Caroline Longstaffe, 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

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

      A million miles away

      Caroline Longstaffe, May 5, 2022
    • Spring blossoms in Lourmarin

      Spring in Provence, England and Lake Tahoe, California

      Caroline Longstaffe, March 9, 2021
    • Dreaming of Christmas

      Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas yet to come

      Caroline Longstaffe, December 5, 2020
Oppede le Vieux, Luberon, France
Around ProvenceLourmarinLuberonNearby LourmarinThe Vaucluse

Oppède-le-Vieux

admin, November 9, 2012

Oppède-le-Vieux, its narrow, broken, cobbled streets leading up to its 12th century, ruined ramparts. High on a rocky precipice over looking the lush Luberon valley far below, abundant with vineyards, olive groves and fruit orchards. This is a striking and …

Read more 0 Comments
Lourmarin view at night, Lourmarin, Luberon, Provence
DiscoverLourmarinStories from Lourmarin

Late autumnal twilight in Lourmarin

admin, November 3, 2012

What is it about the clocks changing that seem to totally change the atmosphere around twilight? Almost as if a touch of Christmas magic and anticipation has been sprinkled like fairy dust. Strolling around Lourmarin last night at dusk, the …

Read more 0 Comments
Cheese in the Lourmarin market, Lourmarin, Luberon, Provence
Activities in LourmarinDiscoverLourmarinLuberonThe VaucluseVisit Lourmarin

The Lourmarin Marché

admin, October 26, 2012

When you have been to one market you have been to them all. Well in one sense that is true. They all sell similar things in an outside setting, scattered round a town square or along a few streets. Maybe …

Read more 0 Comments
A view of Loumrarin, Luberon, Provence, France
DiscoverLourmarinVisit Lourmarin

Lourmarin, my special place to live

admin, October 19, 2012

When do you know that you are somewhere special? What is it that evokes such feelings? Maybe an exotic location, maybe when you are doing something totally exhilarating like meeting the challenge of a death defying ski slope, one you …

Read more 0 Comments
Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, England
BritainExploreThe Cotswolds

Blenheim Palace

admin, October 12, 2012

Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, this beautiful site was bestowed to John Churchill, by a grateful Queen Anne and thankful nation following the victory at the Battle of Blenheim, in 1704, against the French and Bavarians. How fitting therefore, that this …

Read more 0 Comments
An Hour from LondonBritainExplore

Bletchley Park, England

admin, October 9, 2012

Bletchley Park, 50 miles north-west of London, predictably, proved a fascinating place. Called ‘Station X’, by the British government, it was where during World War II the British cracked the German Enigma Code, the backbone of the German military and intelligence communications. …

Read more 2 Comments
State Street Santa Barbara, California, USA
California & USAExploreOther Places in California

Santa Barbara – Europe in California

admin, September 19, 2012

“We decided not to go to Europe this year but come to Santa Barbara instead” Oucch! Just the type of comment that the cynical Brit loves to ‘munch on’ when grumbling about their sheltered maybe somewhat less travelled American cousins……………. But having …

Read more 0 Comments
Palm Desert, California, USA
California & USAExploreOther Places in California

Agua Caliente – Palm Springs/Palm Desert, a place to escape?!

admin, August 31, 2012

This tiny house in Belmont Shore is where our life in California began nearly 30 years ago! When we arrived in Los Angeles in July 1985 it was my first visit to North America, my husband had seen a great deal …

Read more 0 Comments
A Southern California Beach
California & USAExploreOther Places in California

The 405 San Diego Freeway – where our Californian love affair began

admin, August 27, 2012

Why would anyone be reduced to tears in the hazy, virtually standstill, 6 lanes of gas guzzling  405, San Diego Freeway? A Los Angeles freeway that I always think of as ‘mine’. A road full of so many memories and …

Read more 0 Comments
Porsche 911's at Carmel Porsche Werks Reunion , Carmel. California, USA
California & USACarmelExplore

The glitter and the gold – Cars and Carmel

admin, August 24, 2012

Cars have always featured heavily in my life, or more to the point in the lives of the men in my life; my Father my brother my husband and son! So imagine an event brimming with exotic cars, historic cars, luxury …

Read more 0 Comments
« Previous 1 … 36 37 38 39 40 … 42 Next »

Subscribe Here

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

Caroline Longstaffe, 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

Caroline Longstaffe, 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

Caroline Longstaffe, July 13, 2022
Around ProvenceCôte d'AzurExploreVar

Instagram

Christmas shopping at #ferrybuilding #sanfrancisco Christmas shopping at #ferrybuilding #sanfrancisco
Christmas joy Christmas joy
December skies in #carmelbythesea December skies in #carmelbythesea
Happy Thanksgiving from this beautiful place I’m Happy Thanksgiving from this beautiful place I’m so thankful to call home #carmel
Wonders of the Monterey Bay Aquarium #montereybaya Wonders of the Monterey Bay Aquarium #montereybayaquarium
The beauty of stunning 17 Mile Drive #carmel #cali The beauty of stunning 17 Mile Drive #carmel #california
Instagram post 18223404712093929 Instagram post 18223404712093929
Instagram post 17948800100475839 Instagram post 17948800100475839
Follow on Instagram
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins
Error: There is no connected account for the user 17841401047622939.

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

Caroline Longstaffe, 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
Copyright © 2024 Shutters & Sunflowers, All Rights Reserved.
↑ Back to top