Explore Provence with Camille, one of the newest members of the Provence Holidays team.
French on her father's side and British on her mother's, Camille grew up near Fontainebleau before moving south in her twenties. Life later took her to Paris and then Bordeaux, but Provence never quite let her go, and last year she came home. Now she spends her days doing what she describes, simply, as promoting her favourite place in the world.
Getting to know Camille
Camille first fell in love with Provence when she arrived twelve years ago, and the feeling never faded. Even during the years she spent in Paris and Bordeaux, a part of her stayed behind. "I always felt that I left a part of me there," she says, and she came back as often as she could. It is the small towns, the old stones, the beautiful places and the stunning landscapes that hold her, so joining a company devoted to promoting some of the region's most beautiful properties felt like the most natural choice in the world. Ask what she enjoys most about the job day to day and the answer is disarmingly simple: "Promoting my favourite place in the world!" It is a sentiment that colours everything she does at Provence Holidays.
Why the South of France
"To me, living and working in Provence is a constant balance between a secret you wish you could keep hidden and a paradise you feel compelled to share." - Camille
Camille is especially fond of spring, when the weather begins to turn warmer and sunnier and the garrigue starts to release its scent across the hills. She also loves the region's living traditions, none more so than a course camarguaise, the local bull show that draws villages together throughout the season. Asked to describe Provence to someone who has never been, she captures it in a single, balanced thought. "To me, Provence is both peaceful and tranquil, yet incredibly vibrant. It is a place rich in nature, traditions, and local culture, where life seems to slow down and people know how to take the time to appreciate life's simple moments."
Her favourite family-friendly villa | Maison Bardot
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence | 12 people | 4 bedrooms | 4 bathrooms
For families, Camille's heart belongs to Maison Bardot, and above all to its unique 1960s vibe. This retro-style house sits just a seventeen-minute walk from the centre of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, with a pool, generous terraces and a meticulously decorated interior. Its spacious living areas and sun-soaked outdoor spaces are designed to make the most of the Provençal light, the kind of relaxed, characterful home where a family can spread out and settle into the holiday.
Perfect for groups | La Bastide du Millénaire
Eyragues, near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence | 15 people | 8 bedrooms | 7 bathrooms
When it comes to larger gatherings, Camille recommends La Bastide du Millénaire for its slightly vintage charm and its French elegance, a property that strikes the perfect balance between the old and the new. A luxurious 18th-century bastide and former mill in the heart of Eyragues, it offers a vast 550 m² interior with three stylish salons, a 12-metre heated pool and a 2,000 m² garden. It is countryside character and refined comfort in equal measure, made for friends and family coming together in style.
Where she loves to eat | Le Jardin du Quai
Camille's favourite table is Le Jardin du Quai in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. A great chef, excellent food and a truly lovely setting come together here, she says, in one of those addresses that feels effortlessly special. It is the kind of place that captures everything she loves about dining in Provence: quality, atmosphere and a sense of being exactly where you want to be.
An experience not to miss | A perfect day in the Alpilles
Camille's ideal day unfolds across the Alpilles. Begin with a walk through Les-Baux-de-Provence early in the morning, before the crowds arrive and while the village is still quiet. As the day warms, head to the Carrières de Lumières in the afternoon for a cool reprieve and an immersive feast of light and colour. On the way back, stop at the Moulin de Castelas to discover how olive oil is produced and to stock up on delicious local specialities. Then finish, as any good Provençal day should, with an apéritif on a terrace in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.
French and British, shaped by Fontainebleau, Paris and Bordeaux, but always drawn home to the South of France, Camille brings a genuine love of the region to everything she does at Provence Holidays. From a retro family home in Saint-Rémy to an elegant bastide in Eyragues, a long lunch in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue or an apéritif as the Alpilles glow at golden hour, her Provence is a secret worth keeping and a paradise made for sharing.
À bientôt,
