Nestled in the picturesque region of the VAR department in Provence, France sits a small village called Cotignac. Despite only boasting slightly over 2,000 residents, it has the highest amount of ex-pats than other local villages, with more than 30 nationalities represented.

In the Fall of 2013, Joel and I spent two weeks in a lovely rented home that overlooked the village. We love France and always look forward to visiting. This was our first time to Provence.

I first learned about Cotignac when I started following Provence Living. Initially I was drawn in by their vibrant pictures of colorful fruits and vegetables, linen scarves and woven bags from the weekly outdoor market.

With Joel’s interest in wine (we met up with winemaker acquaintances who live in the village) and our mutual affection for France, we decided to head to Provence to take in the lovely region via the tiny village of Cotignac.

If you’re more interested in quaint village life than laying on the beach everyday on the Cote d’Azur, a place like Cotignac can be a great home base. We mostly ate, drank, strolled around the village and enjoyed the breathtaking views. But we also explored other nearby cities. (More on that in future travel posts). And the Riviera is only a 1.5 hour drive away.

Here are some pictures from our time in the village of Cotignac.

Market Day