Peter Mayle’s many novels are set in Provence. This English-speaking author, who loves French culture, is one of the most fervent ambassadors of the South of France.
From London to Provence
Born on 14 June 1939 in Oxshott, United Kingdom, Peter Mayle first had a successful professional career in advertising in London and New York. At the end of the 1980s, he discovered the Luberon during his holidays. It was raining on the Côte d’Azur, and he decided to leave the coast to visit the south of France. Love at first sight for the Luberon was immediate! Jennifer and Peter Mayle decided to leave London and move to the South of France.
This change of life is accompanied by a change of profession. Peter Mayle became a writer, and wrote many bestsellers. He did not leave Provence until his death on 18 January 2018 at the hospital in Aix-en-Provence.
A year in Provence, the story of a settlement
Published in 1989, A Year in Provence tells the story of a British couple’s move to Provence, near the village of Ménerbes. Peter Mayle recounts the many adventures encountered by this family, and describes with humour and kindness the behaviour of the inhabitants of the Luberon. The characters are exaggerated, but not caricatured.
Inspired by his own experience, the novel A Year in Provence has sold millions of copies and been translated into dozens of languages. Many readers have been inspired to discover Provence and the Luberon, and some have moved there.
Provence A-Z, a guide for everyone
Would you like to spend a few days in Provence, or settle there? This book, originally published in 1992, gives you the secrets of Provençal life. You will visit Marseille with Peter Mayle, you will learn the secrets of the corkscrew and olive oil, you will learn how to spend a summer afternoon under the southern sun… You will be able to meet the culture and the gastronomy of Provence.
Provence A-Z e guarantees you a pleasant moment, and takes a fresh and unusual look at our beautiful region.
A Good Year, a tribute to southern viticulture
An Englishman inherits a vineyard in Provence. Max Skinner enjoys his new life, but has a problem: his wine is almost undrinkable! The new owner contacts an oenologist, but has questions about his practices and sales methods.
Peter Mayle describes the French love of wine in his trademark style: funny, slightly exaggerated but always endearing. Unrealistic but deeply entertaining, A Good Year shows the author’s love for Provence. It has seduced millions of readers around the world.
In the footsteps of Peter Mayle in Provence
The village of Ménerbes has become world famous thanks to Peter Mayle. It became an international tourist destination after the publication of Year in Provence. This perched village in the Luberon has since regained some of its tranquillity. A stroll through the picturesque streets of Ménerbes makes it easy to understand why the author fell in love with Provence. You can visit other pretty villages nearby such as Lacoste, with the castle of the Marquis de Sade, or Bonnieux, situated on the Luberon mountain.
Peter Mayle also lived for several years in Vaugines, a charming village in the southern Luberon. You can visit Vaugines and the neighbouring village of Lourmarin, which has been awarded the “Most Beautiful Villages of France” label.
