Shutters & Sunflowers

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

Posts tagged Fortifications of Vauban

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

caroline_longstaffe, July 3, 2026

Day 4: Camaret-sur-Mer and Locronan Southern Brittany The next morning, day 4 of our Brittany tour, we left our château at Pléhédel and the pink granite coast and headed to southern Brittany for two nights. The sun was shining and the …

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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!

Hôtel de la Beursaudièr, Chablis, France

Explore France

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 …

The lavender of the Luberon, Provence

, July 25, 2022

Around Provence Explore Luberon

Château Léoube entrance by the vines's,Bormes-les-Mimosas, Var Provence, France

Léoube, Provençal rosé enticing England and California

, July 13, 2022

Around Provence Côte d'Azur Explore Var