Where are the Michelin Stars in Provence?

For chefs and foodies alike, it's an exciting harbinger of spring: the announcement each year of the new Michelin-star ratings in the latest edition of the Michelin Guide France & Monaco 2026 (aka the Guide Rouge). With few exceptions, Michelin has been publishing French travel and restaurant guides since the year 1900 (although strictly speaking, the star-rating system began in 1926 and the three-tier system was introduced in 1931.) The history of Michelin restaurant ratings is here.

The 2026 Guide Rouge announcements were made last month at a ceremony at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, the first time in Michelin's history that the prestigious event was hosted in the Principality. And the guide itself is now available in bookstores across France and on Amazon. But once again, because I live to please you, I've compiled a list of all the starred restaurants across Provence, the Côte d'Azur and Monaco to make it super easy for you! 

There are six departments in the region known as PACA (Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur) and you'll find all the Michelin-starred restaurants in PACA and Monaco in my list below, organized department by department. Each restaurant appears with its current 2026 star rating; restaurants new to the list are in red.

This year there was just one new three-star restaurant in all of France: Les Morainières in Jongieux in the Savoie, owned by chef Michaël Arnoult and his wife Ingrid. That brings the total number of restaurants in France and Monaco with this top accolade to 31. There are 84 two stars and 553 one stars...a total of 668 starred restaurants for 2026. To read about all the newly starred restaurants in France, click here.

Once again, Michelin has also given some un-starred restaurants its "Bib Gourmand" designation, meaning good food at low prices; the Bib Gourmand is often considered a precursor to a first star. Bib Gourmands, Michelin says, can be relied upon for ''convivial atmospheres, careful cooking and fair prices.'' This year there are 37 Bib Gourmands in PACA and you can see them all here. Altogether there are 430 Bib Gourmand restaurants across France.

Michelin has also continued to give Green Stars for sustainable gastronomy, an award distinct and separate from regular stars. The Green Star celebrates restaurants for eco and sustainable practices such as working with seasonal ingredients and sustainable producers, waste reduction, recycling, etc. The Green Star program launched in 2020 and you can read about it here.

This year Michelin also presented awards celebrating sommeliers, service, young chef talent and more. And ten restaurants were championed for the central role that desserts play in the gastronomic experience.

At the awards ceremony in Monaco, Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guide, praised the vitality of the French and Monegasque gastronomic scene. “Our inspectors have been particularly impressed by the audacity of a new generation of chefs who are opening very personal houses throughout France and Monaco,” he said. “Often led by couples, with complementary roles between savory and pastry, or between the kitchen and the dining room, these life projects reflect the entrepreneurial energy and strong local roots that characterize gastronomy today. From tables rooted in the terroirs to more contemporary and international cuisines, this diversity confirms that restaurants remain more than ever essential places of openness, meeting and sharing.” 

For the press release about this year's guide and winners, click here. 

The Michelin Guide France & Monaco has traditionally been published only in French. But good news for those of you qui ne parlent pas français: all of the recommendations are on the Michelin Guide website and on their app, fully browse-able in English. Poking around on the Michelin site just now, I see that in addition to starred restaurants and Bib Gourmands, they also list restaurants known simply for ''good cooking,'' which I think is a great feature. You can also book restaurants directly through the site, via The Fork. And if you register, you can keep track of your favorites, your visited restaurants and--wait for it--indulge your inner critic by sharing your opinions with Michelin reviewers.

All of that being said, I still think my list here is a super-handy way to quickly find out where the Michelin stars are...if you're living here in the South of France, traveling here or just curious. So to see all the starred restaurants in PACA and Monaco, read on! 

Michelin Starred Restaurants across Provence, the Côte d'Azur and Monaco for 2026

ALPES DE HAUTE PROVENCE (Dept. 04) 

Château Arnoux - La Bonne Étape *

Mane - Le Feuillée - Le Couvent des Minimes *

Manosque  - Restaurant Pierre Grein *

Moustiers Sainte Marie - La Bastide de Moustiers *

LES HAUTES ALPES (05)

No stars this year 

ALPES MARITIMES (06)

Antibes -  Louroc – Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc *

Antibes (Cap d'Antibes) - Les Pêcheurs *

Beaulieu- sur-Mer - Le Restaurant des Rois – La Réserve de Beaulieu *

Biot - Les Terraillers *

Cannes -  La Palme d’Or  *

Le Cannet (Cannes) - La Villa Archange **

La Colle-sur-Loup - Alain Llorca *

Èze - La Chèvre d’Or *

Èze - Château Eza *

Èze Bord de Mer - La Table du Cap Estel *  NEW 2026

Juan-les-Pins - La Passagère -  Hotel Belles Rives *

Mandelieu-la-Napoule - Bessem * 

Menton - Mirazur ***

Nice - Les Agitateurs *

Nice - L'Aromate *

Nice - Le Chantecler *

Nice - Épicentre * NEW 2026

Nice - Flaveur ** 

Nice - Jan *

Nice  - Onice *

Nice -  Racines - Bruno Cirino *

Roubiou - Auberge Quintessence *

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat - Le Cap at the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat *

Saint-Paul-de-Vence - La Table de Pierre * NEW 2026

Théoule-sur-Mer  - Mareluna *

Théoule-sur-Mer - L'Or Bleu  *

Valdeblore - Auberge de la Roche * NEW 2026

Villeneuve-Loubet - La Flibuste *

BOUCHES DU RHONE (13) 

Aix-en-Provence - Le Art at Château de la Gaude *

Aix-en-Provence  - Étude * 

Aix-en-Provence - La Table de Pierre Reboul  * 

Aix-en-Provence/Le-Puy-Sainte-Reparade - La Table de l'Orangerie, Château de Fonscolombe  *

Arles - La Chassagnette  *

Barbentane – Ineffable *

Les Baux-de-Provence - L'Oustau de Baumanière ***  

Les Baux-de-Provence - L'Aupiho at Domaine de  Manville * 

Cabriès  - La Bastide Bourrelly - Mathias Dandine *

Carry-le-Rouet - L’Oursin * NEW 2026

Cassis - La Villa Madie ***

La Ciotat - Couleurs de Shimatani *

La Ciotat (Le Liouquet) - La Table de Nans *

Eygalières - Maison Hache *

Gemenos - La Magdeleine - Mathias Dandine *

Marseille - AM par Alexandre Mazzia ***

Marseille -  Auffo * NEW 2026

Marseille - Le Petit Nice ***

Marseille - Une Table au Sud *

Saint-Cannat - Le Mas Bottero *

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence - L'Auberge de Saint Rémy -Fanny Rey & Jonathan Wahid **

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence - Restaurant de Tourrel *

Salon-de-Provence - Villa Salone *

Ventabren – Dan B.

 

LE VAR (83)

Les Arcs sur Agens - Le Relais des Moines *

Bandol - Les Oliviers* NEW 2026

Le Castellet - La Table du Castellet *** 

La Croix Valmer - La Palmeraie at the Château de Valmer * 

Flassans-sur-Issole – Chez Jeannette *

Flayosc - Le Jardin de Berne at the Hôtel Château de Berne *

Le Lavandou - L’Oursin, Hotel les Roches* NEW 2026

Lorgues - Bruno*

Ramatuelle - La Voile at the Hôtel La Réserve Ramatuelle **

Saint-Tropez  - Arnaud Donckele& Maxime Frédéric at Louis Vuitton *

Saint-Tropez - Colette *

Saint-Tropez - La Terrasse at Cheval Blanc * 

Saint-Tropez  - La Vague d'Or at Cheval Blanc ***

Toulon - Shanael * NEW 2026

Tourettes -  Faventia *

VAUCLUSE (84)  

Ansouis -  Garrigue * NEW 2026

Avignon - Pollen *

Bonnieux - La Bastide *

Bonnieux  - JU- Maison de Cuisine *

Bonnieux  -  La Table des Amis  **

Cadenet - Le Goût du Bonheur, La Fenière  *

Cucuron - La Petite Maison de Cucuron *

L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue - Le Vivier *

 

MONACO (98)

L’Abysse Monte Carlo **

Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac  ** 

Blue Bay Marcel Ravin **

Elsa Marcel Ravin *

Le Grill at Hotel de Paris *

Le Louis XV - Alain Ducasse at the Hôtel de Paris ***

Pavyllon, un restaurant de Yannick Alleno, Monte Carlo *

Robuchon Monaco * NEW 2026

La Table d’Antonio Salvatore au Rampoldi *

 

 

River Kayaking in Provence 2023

While the days dwindle down to a precious few (as Willie Nelson says) and back-to-school lurks just around the corner, Provence is still crazy crowded...and hot! In fact, they're saying that this will be the hottest week of the year in France. River kayaking is a fabulous way to while away a few hours, get deliciously cool, have a swim if you want one and see some amazing scenery. Luckily, river kayaking in Provence is super easy and the local outfitters will be open for at least another month or two. I encourage many of my clients to try it and no one has told me they didn't love it. Get out there!

You can kayak (and stand-up paddleboard) on the Rhône from Avignon (with views of the ramparts, the Pont St. Benezet and the 14th-century Palais des Papes), but whenever I get the chance, I love kayaking on the River Sorgue, from the village of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse in the Luberon. You can also kayak on the River Gardon from Collias, a fantastic way to experience the 2000-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Pont du Gard. 

Another outfitter I've just learned about is AFDA Canoe, which offers canoe/kayaking on the Durance River, from the village of Lauris in the Southern Luberon. An 8 km route takes you from Cadenet to Lauris (75 minutes) while an 18 km course links Puy Sainte Reparade to Lauris (three hours). Can't wait to kayak the Durance! 

If you've never kayaked before, not to worry! You'll get a short tutorial, there are usually staffers on the river to help (at least on the Sorgue there are), the kayaks are very open (meaning, on the off chance that you tip, you're not trapped) and these are not fast-running rivers. Below you'll find the details on everything.

But the four places mentioned above (the Sorgue, the Gardon, the Durance and the Rhône) are by no means the only places for kayaking in Provence; you can do it in the Camargue, at the Gorges du Verdon and in sea kayaks up and down Mediterranean Coast. If you have a favorite kayak place and want to share the info, please leave a comment below.

KAYAKING ON THE SORGUE

Fontaine-de-Vaucluse is 15 minutes from L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and if you hit the big Sunday market or smaller Thursday market there (in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue), kayaking from Fontaine is a great way to spend the afternoon. Then again, it's great fun any day, morning or afternoon. It’s an easy trip (about five miles) on clear, cool shallow water and you see lots of lovely, lush countryside. You leave your car in Fontaine and they bring you back by bus (usually with disco music blasting, but in a good way). There are two companies that do it: Kayak Vert and Canoe Evasion. Both are outside town with big signs so they’re easy to find. I prefer Canoe Evasion for a couple small reasons but either is fine! If you go with Kayak Vert, there's sometimes a wait at the beginning of the route where you have to go over a dam but there's always someone there to help. Both outfitters have small snack bars (cold drinks, ice cream, etc.), bathrooms and lots of parking.

With Kayak Vert, you can go at your own pace; with Canoe Evasion you’re sort of encouraged to stay with a group of boats but you don’t really have to.  The trip takes 2 to 2.5 hours and there’s a little break in the middle for swimming or just chilling on the river banks. And don't miss the rope swing! Whether you swim or not you’ll definitely get wet so plan accordingly and have a beach towel with you. Also, definitely wear water shoes or grippy sandals because there may be a few places where you have a little walk on slippery rocks. 

Both companies give you a watertight container for your stuff and life preserver vests...and there's staff here and there on the river to help if you need it.

Here are the two outfitters for kayaking the Sorgue and reservations are definitely recommended.

Canoe Evasion: 2023 prices:  €26 pp adults; €13 for kids under 14. Groups of 10 or more: adults pay €20 each, kids (6-14) pay €13. Payment is by cash, French check or credit card. There’s no minimum age per se, but the company prefers kids be five or older; they must be able to swim at least 25 meters and submerge themselves (meaning, not panic if they go under water).  Open every day from May 15 to September 30 (but closed the third weekend in September).  Open daily from 9 am to 3:30 pm, with departures every 40 mins or so. Bookings must be made by phone: +33 (0)4 90 38 26 22  or online:  canoe-evasion.com, contact@canoe-evasion.net.

Kayak Vert. 2023 prices:  €25 pp adults, €13 for kids (6-12). For groups of 15 or more, please inquire. Kayak Vert’s age minimum is six and kids must be able to swim 25 meters. Payment is by credit card only (but no Amex). Open May 15 to October 15. Reservations by phone:  +33 (0) 4 66 22 80 76 or online at kayakvert.com.

A Bit About Fontaine-de-Vaucluse

Fontaine-de-Vaucluse is an interesting village so leave some time before or after kayaking to explore. This pretty little town (population 600 or so) is best known for its deep-water source or spring at the foot of a steep cliff 230 meters high. It’s the biggest spring in France and the fifth largest in the world; it's where the Sorgue River begins and when the water is high and running strong, it's truly a gorgeous site to see...actually its pretty gorgeous all the time.

In 1946, Jacques Cousteau and another diver were almost killed searching for the bottom of the spring, at about 100 meters down. (As it turns out they weren’t even close: the bottom is at 308 meters.) The spring is the only exit point of a subterranean basin that collects water from Mont Ventoux, the Vaucluse Mountains and Lure Mountain. People have lived in the area since Neolithic times (you know, back when you could still find a parking spot here easily). Archaeological digs have turned up more than 1600 coins from the 1st century BC to the 5th century AD. 

Fontaine has an interesting museum in an old paper mill (with a cool shop selling all types of paper products, diaries, puzzles, handmade books, stationary and other goodies based on the same theme), a museum about Petrarch and one filled with Santons (traditional Provencale figurines). Plus, the village has plenty of cafes and restaurants right on or near the river and some cute shops.

Not far from Canoe Evasion is a "parc accrobranche" that families love. This is one of those ropes courses where you swing from trees on zip lines and such. It's called La Passerelle des Cîmes and friends who’ve been say everyone loves it...all ages. As you approach Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, you’ll see the signs.

KAYAKING ON THE GARDON

To kayak the Gardon River and see the Pont du Gard, the two main outfitters are Canoe Collias and Kayak Vert; both leave from the town of Collias, between Uzes and the Pont du Gard. You can keep the kayak all day if you like but most people like the basic two-hour paddle, taking them 8 km up to and under the Pont du Gard. What a fantastic way to experience this 2000-year-old Roman aqueduct, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. All along the river there are little beaches and places to picnic, swim, sunbathe, etc.  The two-hour time frame is calculated on paddling from Collias to the Pont du Gard non-stop, but you can keep the kayak as long as you like for the same price. As they do on the Sorgue River, the outfitters bring you back by bus. Reservations aren't required but they're definitely recommended and booking is online only. In high season definitely reserve at least a few days before.   

Canoe Collias, canoe-collias.com, or +33 (0)4 66 22 87 20 or +33 (0)6 23 65 51 32. Prices for 2023: €25 for adults, €19 for teens (13-17), €13 for kids (6-12).

Kayak Vert Collias/Pont du Gard, kayakvert.com or +33 (0)4 66 22 80 76, contact@kayakvert.com. Prices for 2023:  €25 for adults, €20 for teens (13-17) and €13 for kids (6-12).

KAYAKING ON THE RHONE AT AVIGNON

Operated by an association (Canoe Outings Comite de Vaucluse de Kayak) rather than a private company, this experience is extremely popular with river-cruise passengers, locals and groups, who often bring their own translator or request one because not all the staff speaks English. That said, they're currently the only outfitter offering kayaking in this gorgeous city, their prices are low and they have solid reviews on Trip Advisor . I've never canoed here but I see no reason that paddling around the 14th-century Palais des Papes and the famous Pont St. Benezet wouldn't be great fun. Canoe rentals in July/August are by the half hour: 30 minuntes is €8 pp, 60 minutes is €12 pp, 90 minuntes is €16 pp and so forth. Open daily from 2 pm to 6:30.  There are also three different “river discovery tours” in July and August – check the website for details. Questions? Call +33 (0)6 11 52 16 73 or +33 (0)6 51 60 13 59. The office is open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm and can be reached at: +33 (0)4 28 70 27 27.  canoe-vaucluse.fr, contact@canoe-vaucluse.fr.

Photo Credits: (1, 2) Kayaking on the Sorgue, photos courtesy of Kayak Vert and Canoe Evasion. (3) The famous source in Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. Photo courtesy of TheLuberon.com. (4)  Kayaking at the Pont du Gard, courtesy of Canoe Collias. (5) Kayaking the Rhône at Avignon, courtesy of Avignon Tourisme.

Venice in Les Baux: New Show at Carrières des Lumières

The Carrières des Lumières (Quarries of Light) is a magical space in a vast cave-like quarry at the base of the hilltop village of Les Baux de Provence. There in the cool darkness, 100 video projectors splash 2,000 still and moving images over an area of more than 75,000 square feet, onto the 45-f00t-high walls and onto the stone floor, while 74 speakers provide the perfectly choreographed soundtrack to what you’re seeing.  The sound-and-light show changes once a year and is one of the most-popular, most-visited sites in Provence. 

On March 4, the Carrières launched its new immersive exhibition for 2022. Called Venise La Sérénissime, it explores the artistic and architectural treasures of the gorgeous Italian city.  Traveling through the Grand Canal, lanes, squares, buildings and churches, you’ll be transported into the world of Venice—both holy and secular—and see all the symbols of the city’s extraordinary history. Expect to be immersed in Byzantine art and the impressive golden mosaics of Saint Mark’s Basilica, the masterpieces of Tintoretto, Bellini, and Canaletto, and the famous Mostra del Cinema, through photos of the actresses and actors of Italian neorealist films. 

The 40-minute show is set to the music of Vivaldi, Verdi, Albinoni, Handel and Paganini. I’ve always felt that the soundtrack plays a large part in the impact of show. People around here still talk about the brilliant pairing of Salvador Dali and Pink Floyd in 2020...loved it!

As in years past the 2022 program was created by Gianfranco Iannuzzi and produced by Culturespaces Digital. 

Also as in years past, there’s also a shorter, second program. This year it’s Yves Klein: Infinite Blue, focused on the work of the 20th-century, Nice-born artist (the son of two painters) who was inspired deeply throughout his career by the colors of the Mediterranean. The ten-minute Klein show is set to Mozart, Vivaldi, Thylacine and Brian Eno. (More about Klein is here and here.)

The two shows combined last about 50 minutes and run on a continuous loop. Both are on view until January 2, 2023.

The Carrières de Lumières sits in the Val d’Enfer, a stone's throw Les Baux itself; you can easily walk between them but on foot you have a bit of a climb up to the village itself.  These quarries produced the white limestone used for the construction of the village of Les Baux, the Château des Baux and many buildings in surrounding villages including St. Remy. Aluminum ore bauxite was discovered here in 1821 by geologist Pierre Berthier, who named it after the village. In 1935, the use of more-modern materials led to the quarries' demise.  

Dramatic and otherworldly looking, the area has inspired artists of all sorts; it provided the setting for Dante’s Divine Comedy and Gounod created his opera Mireille here. Later, Cocteau came here to film The Testament of Orpheus.  A 16-minute film tracing Cocteau’s life can be seen in the Salle Cocteau, adjacent to the main space.

The Carrières du Val d’Enfer have been awarded Natural Monument status in France. 

The first transformation of the abandoned quarries began in 1976 with the development of a project using the huge rocky walls for sound and light performances.

Formerly known as the Cathedrale des Images, the venue closed in 2011 and re-opened (after a €2 million re-do) as the Carrières de Lumières the following year. Since then, it’s been managed by Culturespaces. Founded by Bruno Monnier in 1990, Culturespaces is the leading private operator/manager of monuments, museums and art centers in France. The Culturespaces Foundation, founded in 2009, fosters access to art and culture for children affected by illness, disability or poverty. One of France’s benchmark foundations, it’s known for initiatives that blend culture, education and solidarity.

Based on the wide popularity of the Carrières de Lumières, Culturespaces has launched a number of similar “digital art centers” including the Atelier des Lumières, Paris (2018), the Bunker des Lumières, Jeju (2018), the Bassins des Lumières, Bordeaux (2020) and Infinity des Lumières, Dubai (2021). Three more venues are expected to open this year: The Hall des Lumières (New York), the Fabrique des Lumières (Amsterdam) and the Théâtre des Lumières (Seoul).

For a look at all the Carrieres shows since 2016, click here.

A full press kit in English is here.

If you’ve never been to the Carrieres des Lumières, you wander at leisure around the dark, cool indoor space. The stone floors are somewhat uneven so if you’re unsteady, bring a cane or walking stick. There are stone benches for those who want them and you can stay as long as you like. As you exit, there’s a small but interesting shop selling books and other items pertaining to the history of Provence, Les Baux, the Carrières and the Val d’Infer.

The Cafe des Carrières is open from 10 am daily, closing at 5:30, 6 pm or 6:30 depending on the season, serving drinks, sandwiches and sweets.

As in years past, you can just show up at the Carrières and buy a ticket. But to avoid long lines in season, they suggest you boook online here.  You can also buy tickets in advance at the Carrières ticket office or at all FNAC stores. Pricing for 2022 is: €14.50 (adults), €13.50 seniors (65 and up), €12 students and free for journalists, jobseekers, the disabled and kids under 7. On the website you’ll see family rates and combined-visit prices (for the Carrières, the Chateau des Baux and the Musée Yves Brayer), along with background, directions and much more. 

Open seven days a week; last entry is one hour before closing.  

March: 9:30 am - 6 pm. 
April, May, June, Sept & Oct: 
9:30 am - 7 pm. 
July & Aug: 9 am - 7:30 pm. 
Nov, Dec, Jan: 10 am - 6 pm. 

Carrières des Lumières 

Route de Maillane  
13520 Les Baux de Provence 
Tel: +33 (0)4  90 49 20 02
carrieres-lumieres.com

Photos: (1) Poster for the new show. (2-10) Eight images of Venice in the immersive exhibit inside the quarry. As you can imagine it's hard to convey photographically what you'll see there in the cool, rocky darkness...but these should give you a pretty good idea. (11) One image from the Yves Klein show, which follows the Venice show on a continuous loop. (12)  The old bauxite quarry in daylight; the geologist who first discovered aluminum ore here named it after the village. (13) One section of the vast space is lit beautifully when the Carrieres hosts private parties and other events. I took this photo at the launch party for the new show a few years ago. (14) One of my favorite photos of the village of Les Baux, taken by Philippe Clairo. 

Win a Three-Week Stay in Provence!

Having led art retreats in Provence for four years now, Nicky Ginsberg has just moved her NG Art Creative Residency & Gallery into a beautiful new space...and she’s giving away a three-week residency in Provence to celebrate. The deadline is October 1 and all the details are below.

Previously based in a lovely old farmhouse in Eygalieres, Nicky’s international non-profit arts association is now permanently settled into a renovated 17 th-century olive mill, nestled in the foothills of the Alpilles mountains. It’s just outside the village of Maussane, a stone’s throw from the historic medieval hilltown of Les Baux.

Christened Moulin de Gréoux some 400 years ago, the grand old property offers international artists, writers, poets, musicians, performers, filmmakers, photographers, academic scholars and other creatives “a place of respite, nourishment and enlightenment to enrich their creative process.”

Moulin de Gréoux was lovingly renovated by previous owners to retain many vestiges from its agricultural past, such as vaulted ceilings, wooden beams, stone troughs and its original olive press. The old stone walls and cathedral-like interior are now home to five guestrooms, a large kitchen, shared studio/atelier, gallery, arts library, piano room and indoor swimming pool. For artists working with clay or other materials, there’s a covered outdoor wet area along with shaded terraces, landscaped gardens and more.

Artists in residence enjoy quiet time to work but also the opportunity to mingle with the public and international visitors at festive dinners, musical soirées, cooking workshops and exclusive vernissage (art opening) events. This open-door philosophy allows residents to showcase their work to a local and wider global audience.

Residents can also participate in communal dinners, cooking workshops with local and international chefs, soirées and performance evenings, professional development and mentorship, seasonal studio exhibits, gallery exhibits, outings of cultural  interest and various networking and collaborative opportunities.

Nicky, a long-time gallery owner, entrepreneur and creative director, founded  the program and now runs it with her partner, aspiring artist Edwin Holder-Vale. (The couple met two years ago in a cooking class in Greece...awww!). You can read Nicky’s bio here and follow Edwin on Instagram here.

For residencies at Moulin de Gréoux, there are four different pricing options starting at €500 a week per person. The program includes accommodation, breakfast and dinner daily, transportation to and from the residency and use of a car and bike for the duration of your stay. If needed, you’ll also have studio space including work stations, easels, professional hanging systems and projectors.

There are also subsidized residencies and a number of sponsorships and prizes offered throughout the year.

If you’re looking to immerse yourself in your work amidst spectacular, natural surroundings, I can’t think of a nicer place to do it. Steeped in Provençal history, the area boasts olive groves and mills, vineyards and wineries, a large sheep farm, picturesque town squares, scores of restaurants and cafes and myriad historic sites dating to Roman times and beyond. And it’s all bathed in that famous light that inspired Van Gogh, Cézanne and so many others.

Ok so...on to the contest! The giveaway includes a three-week complimentary residency, breakfast and dinner daily, full use of the arts studio, professional development and mentorship, use of a car, en plein air activities, meeting art enthusiasts and like- minded creative folk, the opportunity to exhibit in a dedicated gallery and more.

To enter, you must be on Instagram so this is a great time to sign up if you haven’t. Then follow @ngartcreativeresidency, share their latest post (dated September 19) to your stories and tag them. Finally, leave a comment about why you want to win! The winner will be contacted via Instagram on Friday October 1. (And while you're at it, please follow me too! I'm here.)

If you miss this chance or don’t win this time around, you can learn all about the residency program and application process on the NG Art Creative website. Future contests and news will be announced via social media and in Nicky’s newsletter, so be sure to sign up for it by clicking the subscribe tab on the website.  

Bonne Chance...and hope to see you in Provence!

Photos: (1, 2) This 17th-century olive mill in Maussane has been converted into a beautiful live-and-work space for creatives of all types. Win the Instagram contest and you'll stay here three weeks. (3) Communal dinners are fresh, local, seasonal, colorful and, I hear, perfectly delicious. No starving artists here! (4) One of the five guestrooms. (5) Previous owners did most of the renovation and built a large lovely pool in an old barn.  (6) The shared studio/atelier is large enough for four people to work at a time. (7) An artist-in-residence doing his thing en plein air. (8) Come in May/June when the poppies are blooming and you'll get to paint scenes like this. (9) Everyone is welcome to use the large, beautiful kitchen. (10) In its new home, the residency program will operate year round. In cooler months, dinners may be served in the dramatic vaulted dining room. (11) Lovely terraces provide quiet spaces for work, lunches and more. (12) One of the pretty restaurants on the town square in Maussane. (13) The first group of artists-in-residence at the Moulin this summer. (14) Nicky and Edwin met in a cooking class and quickly discovered shared passions such as art, travel and Provence.