Your host, Jean-Marie, on tour with Pepe Saya in the heart of Brittany visiting the smallest producer of butter in the region

Considering choices for lunch on our arrival in Avignon - May 2018

Testimonial for our May 2018 tour

"The trip was wonderful and there were so many highlights. Each day had its own special moments.
And you were the perfect companion to uncover some of the delights of Provence.  Having a native speaking Frenchman did remove all the barriers that normally confront a tourist. Having you there meant that we could relax while you dealt with ordering food  or negotiated access to the cellar of the establishment. I consider myself very lucky to have had you as a guide to Provence.  From the wild thyme along the roadside, to the fields of wild poppies, to the cellars in the area, to such beauty in the rugged terrain, the magnificent view of the cliffs at Roussillon, to the beauty of Lacoste and the famous chateau, all were enjoyable. Then to a quiet evening in Avignon where you cooked a superb meal while we were entertained by  Elodie Sablier . Where else would you find a grand piano in a living room in a small flat? Taking the cruise along the shores of the Mediterranean surrounding Cassis, the water was so blue and calm, contrasting with the rugged cliffs left me speechless. Back on land, we then enjoyed a meal overlooking the sea enjoying what had been caught that morning.
The magic of that last night will stay with me though. Such a beautiful setting where we enjoyed cuisine beyond superb and then explored their cellar under the guidance of the sommelier.
Thank you for this experience. I just want to go back and do it all again."

Margaret K. Melbourne


In May I joined with Jean Marie from ‘Our French Impressions’ on a week-long tour of the Luberon region of Provence. I am no stranger to France and have visited Provence previously.
Yet there are many advantages to be had travelling with a native Provençal: Jean Marie is at one a tour guide but also provides an insight into the life and the people. Each day was a new adventure with a different theme be it French Antiques or Roman ruins or exploring the beautiful City of Aix en Provence.
Of course, food and wine were an important part of every day and we frequented a mixture of street cafés and restaurants. One or two of the latter being a bit special as were the wine cellars that we got to visit. We learnt a lot about the wine industry in the region and listened to some compelling arguments in favour of the cork!
As to the unusual, Jean Marie prepared dinner one evening at the home of a young lady pianist who meantime entertained us with some of her own compositions from the seat of her grand piano. It was a wonderful evening.
A terrific week and I will certainly have a mind to doing it again in the not too distant future. The best way I think of expressing the week is to share with you some of the images taken.
Thank you, Jean Marie, for a great experience.

Alistair R. Melbourne

May might not be a good time if you want to see Lavender but what about the poppies!

We are in deepest Provence, enjoying morning coffee in a plaza and there in the corner is this bottlebrush!?

The wine cellars were something else … (Bauumanière & Auberge de Noves)

Throughout the week we saw the countryside and the Luberon mountains were never far away.

Testimonial for our September 2019 Tour

"My sister and I experienced the September 2019 tour with Our French Impressions.  It was a unique and beautiful experience.  The beauty throughout Provence, the everyday lifestyle in villages, the wine, the food and the joie de vivre are magical.  We have been to Paris many times, but the week in Provence made us fall in love with France beyond Paris.  Jean-Marie Liere is a wonderful guide: knowledgable of the history, architecture and culinary uniqueness of this Region.  The nuance of detail and memories he shared throughout our tour was so enjoyable and brought authenticity not likely to be realised in a more structured/formal tour.  I am not a person likely to sign up for a ‘tour’ of anything.  Discovering it on my own has always been my preference.  Happily, I found a happy medium with Jean-Marie.  He also engaged experts in the region to further enhance our experience—vineyard/wine expert, history specialist and a concert pianist.  Jean Marie cooked a fabulous dinner while the pianist played and shared her story of living in Provence. He is a gracious host, enjoyable companion and took great care of us throughout the tour.  Jean-Marie told us he is connected to the ‘earth’ of Provence. His deep memories served as the foundation for creating our own memories.  His intimate, personal approach to this experience is like none other.  When we met Jean-Marie, he was to be our guide for eight days.  By the end of our tour, Jean-Marie had become a dear friend.
 Without hesitation, I can attest that a trip of a lifetime is found with Our French Impressions."

Susan - Florida - USA - September 2019

"It’s been just over a week now since I’ve returned home from a most memorable trip to France with my sister.  We had visited Paris together many years ago. Almost a year ago she proposed that I join her for the  September «Our French Impressions » week in Provence. Jean-Marie Liere, our guide and host, offered professional and enthusiastic communication in the months, weeks and days leading up to our meeting in Provence. He assisted us with suggestions to book the TGV (train from Paris) in advance, also contacting us in Paris to meet for an introductory cocktail.
 Upon arriving in Provence, we stepped into a storybook where, for 8 days,  Jean-Marie escorted us thru his life and memories as a young boy in his « Provence ». With our visits to quaint villages, the townspeople, breathtaking scenic stops, complimented by the culinary and wine experiences, we too created our story of a « week in Provence « !
 Our week with Jean-Marie was filled with laughter, learning, wine, culinary delights and new friendships.  We’ve returned to our homes with hearts full of love for France and a longing to return bientôt!
 
Merci beaucoup, Jean-Marie!"
​
Walleen - Michigan - USA - September 2019

See below some of the photos Walleen and Susan took during "Our Week in Provence" and Kindly shared with us. Enjoy with no moderation

Guests photos from our September 2019 Week in Provence

OUR NEW LAND CRUISE IN AND AROUND BORDEAUX

OUR LAND CRUISE IN PROVENCE

BUY OUR PROVENCE HARDCOVER BOOKS

After having organised so many trips and itineraries for friends and acquaintances, Our French Impressions have finally done what so many have urge us to do - organise gastronomic and lifestyle trips to various parts of France, starting with Paris and  Provence - so here it is!

Jean-Marie's family on his mother side have deep roots in Provence having been one of the prominent landowners in the region up until the mid last century producing everything from lavender to rice, olive oil to soap. To this day, the family remains deeply attached to their origins and know "their" Provence intimately. Jean-Marie is also the nominated family cook, whose travails are well documented on this blog and beyond and who learned his trade watching his grandmother and mother cook for decades.

Our tour are highly personal and rely on decades of childhood and adulthood memories in the region where our ancestors are buried. We have a deep connection with the land and every corner of our Provence will trigger stories, reminiscences and sharing the knowledge of life as it was once in the region.

Jean-Marie is not your traditional tour guide and is famous for building deep connections with his guests very quickly. You will be engrossed by his memories of Provence and Aquitaine where he lived as a child, as well as his knowledge of the terroir and its history.

 Bespoke tours for Chefs and food & wine professionals

We have recently organised a research trip to Normandie, Bretagne and Vendée around artisan butter makers for the famous Pepe Saya Butter Company based in Sydney and arguably the best butter maker in Australia.

The tour included visits to local museums and famous shops dedicated to butter making over the centuries, as well as visits to 8 artisan butter and cheese makers as small as making 5 kgs of butter a week, to larger operations treating up to 1.5 millions of litres of milk a year and producing a ton of butter a day, still retaining the care and attention to the quality of the final product as smaller producers.

We have the capacity to organise this sort of experience for any particular product or produce, whether it's cheese, foie gras, potatoes, olive oil or winee and Champagne, or a particular region like Provence, Alsace, Bordelais or Burgundy. Just ask!

5 kgs of whey butter chez Valérie & Bruno Royant in Brittany

A ton of butter a day chez Pascal Beillevaire

If you are interested, then register by clicking the button below and we will get in touch with you to get your brief and organise a besoke tour geared just for you.

Tell us HERE what you want to explore

Bespoke tours for individuals
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"Your Week in Provence"
​with
Our French Impressions
​
​Next departures:
​ 
   10/06-17/06/2023

"Your Week in Provence" ​is a lifestyle journey of 8 days/7nights, inspired by the famous book "A Year in Provence" and informed by your host personal touch and intimate knowledge of the region.
Jean-Marie will successfully showcase the real Provence, its authentic cuisine, based on the principles of slow food, locavore and "cucina povera" , locally sourced best wines - no house wine here - and artists and artisans applying the best traditional and modern craftsmanship. 

The itinerary will take you through many typical villages on the east side of the Rhône, around Les Alpilles and the Luberon, a region considered to be the heart of Provence. It is balanced and varied, and your host and his carefully chosen local partners will take care of you 24/7. It has some flexibility built-in,  and there is enough free time for personal discoveries.
The tour will be accompanied by Jean-Marie Lière.

​If you are interested, then click the button below to get the detailed itinerary, payment plans and terms and conditions.

LAVENDER IN PROVENCE 2023

New Land Cruise in and around Bordeaux
​May 27th - June 3rd, 2023

Jean-Marie lived in Bordeaux as a child and his sister was born there. The family lived near the "Bassin à Flots" now a thriving new modern suburb where the Cité du Vin has been built. We will stay nearby.
We explore wineries on the Left and Right Banks pushing South to Armagnac.
We will explore Les Landes, Bassin d'Arcachon, Dune du Pilat, Soulac and Royan thru the 8 days/7 nights itinerary.

If you are interested, then click the button below to get the detailed itinerary, payment plans and terms and conditions.

MAY 2023 Bordeaux/Aquitaine Tour