About Provence Living

How it all started

Provence Living is a community information project centred on Cotignac and the surrounding villages in the South of France. The site shares local events, rural life tips, and cultural insights for residents, expats, and visitors.

Susana Iwase Hanson moved to the South of France in 2002 and has been documenting the region ever since. She founded the Facebook page on September 1st, 2012, after noticing that there was simply not enough information easily available about the area.

The project focuses on year-round living rather than just summer tourism, aiming to give an honest sense of daily life, seasonal rhythms, and the small practicalities of settling into a Provençal village.

Provence Living is a community information project centred on Cotignac and the surrounding villages in the South of France. The site shares local events, rural life tips, and cultural insights for residents, expats, and visitors alike, offering a friendly window into everyday life in this picturesque corner of Provence beyond the busy summer season. The project grew from a simple observation that useful, year-round information about the area was hard to find in one place. It now serves as a relaxed reference for anyone interested in the rhythm of village life, from weekly markets and seasonal festivals to quiet winter walks, traditional cuisine, and the warm social fabric that ties these hilltop communities together.

The rhythm of village life in Provence follows a calendar shaped by weather, harvest, and long-standing traditions. Markets move from square to square on different mornings, filling the centre with the sound of conversation and the smell of fresh bread, herbs, and ripe fruit. Seasonal festivals bring neighbours together, while quieter weeks invite unhurried walks past old fountains, shaded plane trees, and the stone facades of centuries-old houses. Sharing that everyday texture, with its small details and repeated pleasures, is the heart of a community-focused approach to documenting the region.