Travel Journal

The People Behind Our In Love with Provence Journey

©Joanna Maclennan

One of our favorite parts of creating a tour is introducing our guests to the people who make a place feel truly alive.

June 23, 2026

Every itinerary we create is built around meaningful encounters. Of course, we visit beautiful villages, gardens, and historic properties, but what often stays with our guests the most are the people they meet along the way. The artist welcoming us into his studio, the artisan sharing a centuries-old craft, the family inviting us to lunch at their home, or the garden creator explaining why a particular tree was planted exactly where it is.

These moments are rarely found in guidebooks. They are personal, intimate, and often only possible because of relationships we have built over the years. For our recent In Love with Provence journey, we spent the week meeting some extraordinary people who generously opened their doors and shared a little piece of Provence with us.

©Joanna Maclennan

Joanna Maclennan

Photographer & Tour Co-Host

Joanna has been photographing France and its gardens, homes, and landscapes for many years. Based between England and France, she has an extraordinary eye for details that others might easily overlook: the morning light falling onto a stone wall, flowers gathered casually in a pitcher, or an old door hidden in a village lane.

Having Joanna co-host our tours always adds another dimension to the experience. Throughout the week, she encouraged our guests to slow down and really notice the details around them. More than simply documenting the journey, she helped everyone experience Provence with fresh eyes and appreciate the beauty that often exists in the smallest moments.

©Joanna Maclennan

Joseph Bayol

Artist, Painter & Poet of Provence

Joseph Bayol is one of those artists who seems completely inseparable from Provence. Based in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, his colourful, joyful paintings are inspired by the landscapes, traditions, and everyday scenes of the region. Olive trees, cypress-lined roads, local fêtes, and Provençal characters all find their way onto his canvases, creating works that instantly transport you to the South of France.

On our first day together, we visited Joseph’s property in Saint-Rémy, discovering both his home and his atelier. Surrounded by his paintings, we learned more about his creative process and the deep connection he has with Provence and its way of life.

It felt like the perfect way to begin our journey. Before exploring the region itself, we were able to experience Provence through the eyes of one of its artists. Many of our guests completely fell in love with his work, and it was difficult to leave without taking a little piece of Provence home.

©Les Terres de Pierre

William & Prune — Les Terres de Pierre

Olive growers, makers & hosts

Les Terres de Pierre is a 20-hectare organic farm near Les Baux-de-Provence, with olive groves, orchards, vines and garrigue. William, an agricultural engineer, created the estate in 2014, and today the olive grove is part of the Vallée des Baux-de-Provence appellation.

We visited the property with William and Prune, discovered their work, tasted their olive oil, and then sat down for a homemade lunch prepared with fresh produce from the estate and from friends who are local producers in the South of France.

It was one of those visits that felt very simple and very real: good food, beautiful surroundings, and people who are deeply connected to the land they work every day.

©Ashley Tinker

Ashley Tinker

Founder of Curious Provence

Originally from Australia, Ashley has called Provence home for many years and has become one of its most passionate ambassadors. Through Curious Provence, she shares the region’s artisans, traditions, and creative communities with people from around the world.

Visiting Ashley’s atelier felt like stepping into a carefully curated collection of Provence itself. Surrounded by beautiful objects and local creations, she spoke about the artisans she works with and the importance of preserving traditional savoir-faire. Her enthusiasm for the region is completely infectious and reminded us once again how rich and creative Provence truly is.

©Elsa Lenthal

Elsa Lenthal

Lavender Artisan

Elsa is one of those people who keeps a beautiful Provençal tradition alive. She specialises in creating lavender sticks, or fuseaux de lavande, weaving fresh lavender stems together with colourful ribbons to create fragrant little keepsakes.

Our afternoon with Elsa took place in the middle of a lavender field, surrounded by the scent of freshly cut lavender. Under parasols, with local refreshments and lavender all around us, she patiently guided everyone through the process. There was something wonderfully simple and joyful about spending time together creating something by hand and learning a tradition that has existed in Provence for generations.

©Manade Laurent

Manade Laurent – Les Marquises

A Camargue Family Tradition

The Camargue is one of the most fascinating landscapes in Southern France, known for its wild horses, black bulls, marshes, and unique traditions. At Manade Laurent, we were welcomed by the family onto their property to experience this way of life firsthand.

The visit was followed by lunch on the property, where we spent time learning about their daily lives, their connection to the land, and the traditions they continue to preserve. These are always some of the most memorable moments of our tours because they offer a genuine glimpse into local life and allow our guests to connect with people and places in a very personal way.

Dominique Lafourcade

Garden Designer

Dominique Lafourcade is one of France’s most celebrated landscape designers. Based in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, she has created gardens throughout France and internationally, always with a style that feels elegant, natural, and deeply connected to its surroundings.

Being welcomed into her own home and garden was a true privilege. Walking through the property with Dominique herself transformed the visit completely. Every corner had a story, every plant a purpose, and every view had been carefully considered. Listening to her speak about gardens, nature, and creating beauty was both inspiring and incredibly moving.

These are exactly the kinds of encounters we hope our guests will remember. Because while Provence is full of beautiful villages and landscapes, it is ultimately the people behind these places who bring the region to life.

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