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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
Autumn leaves in Lourmarin, Provence, France
Stories from UzesStories of Life

Life is not about the destination but the journey

admin, March 30, 2012

Yesterday as I went to see Chris after his surgery my journey again took me along tree lined vineyards carpeted in a soft kiss of white blossom petals. Tractors slowly churning the rich soil, men toiling alone, bedecked in large …

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Medical crisis in Uzes, ambulance on Rue du Grande Bougarde Uzes
Languedoc-RousillonStories from UzesStories of Life

“Bon Courage!” – coping with a medical crisis in Uzes

admin, March 27, 2012

A medical crisis in Uzes is not something I had anticipated. I never expected to have to learn such french words as ‘infirmière’, ‘douleur’, ‘ordonnance’, ‘chirurgie’ – nurse, pain, prescription, surgery… There are of course other words which have a much easier …

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Pont D'Avignon, Avignon, Vaucluse, Provence, France
Around ProvenceAvignonCities of ProvenceDiscover

Sur le Pont d’Avignon

admin, March 12, 2012

According to legend, the infamous Pont d’Avignon was built In 1185 as a result of a miracle. An angel led a shepherd called Bénézet to Avignon and told him to tell the town to build the bridge. Initially ridiculed, when Bénézet lifted an …

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Plan your stay in Lourmarin, visit Palais des Papes, Avignon, Vaucluse, Provence, France
Aix-en-ProvenceAround ProvenceAvignonCities of ProvenceDiscoverNearby Uzes

A family together, discovering Le Palais des Papes

admin, March 8, 2012

Our lovely daughter Kate, back in the fold to enjoy ‘La Belle France’ with us again and come with us to visit Le Palais des Papes in Avignon! Happily posing with a T-shirt from Daddy, recently purchased in some far off …

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Nun selling wine at Wednesday Market in Uzes, Languedoc Roussillon, France
Stories from UzesUzes

Life in Provence, filling my heart with joy, each day!

admin, March 2, 2012

As I woke on Wednesday morning, contemplating the day ahead and my life in Provence, I thought that to celebrate the year’ s extra day, February 29th, I should be doing something special, other than focusing on work. Then I remembered …

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Stories from UzesUzes

Living in Provence, following my dreams

admin, February 24, 2012

Although I am reveling in my new life living in Provence, I am actually also working. As part of that I am involved in a great deal of social media engagement for Integratis, finding things of value and interest to share. My …

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Provence in winter
Stories from UzesUzes

Uzes in winter, special times with special friends

admin, February 19, 2012

Uzes in winter, a wonderful time to sit over a coffee, when it’s cold outside spending time with friends whom you met many years ago, before children, mortgages, health care issues and all the messy things called ‘life’ have deposited …

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Olives for sale in the Uzès market
Eat in UzesStories from UzesUzes

Entertaining in Uzès and coping with local gourmet delights!

admin, February 12, 2012

Last night I had my first dinner party, entertaining in Uzès, ‘une belle soirée avec de nouveaux amis y de la Suède, qui j’ai rencontré dans ma classe de français!’ (a lovely evening with my new friends from Sweden, whom I met in French class!) Maybe this …

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Stories from UzesStories of LifeUzes

Living in Uzes, my life over the last few days

admin, February 9, 2012

Living in Uzes, what have I been doing over the last few days?! Well that, ‘Love Actually Moment’ happened on arrival but was not nearly so wonderful yesterday back at the Terminal in Marseille Airport, returning a loved one. However …

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Avignon, Provence, France
ExploreNearby UzesUzes

Exploring the local region near Uzes

admin, February 9, 2012

We have begun to explore the local region near Uzes! Kate and I whizzed through several of the local perched villages, guided by ‘Arabella’ through, up and down tiny narrow streets. The type that you find yourself screwing up your …

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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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