Residents of this idyllic haven count George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and George Lucas as neighbours.

DAILY POSTCARD  | TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2026 Dear International Living reader, France is home to many beautiful regions, and Provence is among the most sought-after. Its endless sunshine, hilltop hideaways, and amazing lavender fields would win the heart of any skeptic.  But it gets crowded in the summer.  Those in the know (George Clooney, for one) don't chase the crowds—they find a quieter kind of paradise. P.S. There are hidden places around the world where the pace is slower, the people are warmer, and the cost of living is dramatically lower. My book, Live Better Overseas: Hidden Places and Surprising Ways You Can Spend Less, Live Richer, and Thrive Abroad, shows you where they are—and how to make one your escape hatch Get it FREE here with a limited-time membership offer. France's Star-Studded Secret By Tuula Rampont Provence, France is an absolutely stunning place. An area of almost endless sunshine (some 300+ days a year), wildly romantic stone villages, hilltop hideaways, artist hamlets, and those amazing lavender fields that shine every summer, the region is one of the top destinations in France. I've lived there for the last 16 years and have fallen completely in love with my home-away-from-home. While I live near the seaside, between Marseille and Toulon, it can get crowded in the summer months and real estate prices are on par with its coastal appeal. It's a hot spot, quite literally, where a lot of folks would like to live. Although there are still several affordable pockets in lesser-known cities (like Toulon), living along the Mediterranean Sea comes with a certain price tag. It's a captivating part of the country, and I really do love where I've landed, but if I had to do it all over again, I'd choose the real gem of southern France: Provence Verte (Green Provence). This little known region is on the radar of some of the world's biggest stars. Green Provence is a relatively unknown region that's somehow gotten on the radar of some pretty big celebrities—including George Lucas, Brad Pitt, and newly-minted French citizen George Clooney. The trio all have estates there, although you'd be hard-pressed to stumble upon Mr. Clooney strolling down a village road. It's a quiet spot. Living is easy—privacy, and above all peace, is respected. The Hollywood crowd has helped to put the region on the map, but Green Provence has managed to keep its southern charm and Provençal-village magic. It's not the easiest spot to reach. At about an hour's drive from Toulon (via the A57 freeway), and filled with a collection of stone villages, vineyards, hiking trails, cycling paths, and some incredibly scenic lakes and river canyons, Green Provence's main industry is leisure—and lots of it. Trips to the farmers' market, café mornings with friends, long gourmet lunches, and balades (walks) to a local waterfall are the ordre du jour on any given day. Throw in a village festival or vernissage (art exhibition) and you've got yourself a full social calendar. All in all, Green Provence is home to 43 villages—each with a distinctive set of traditions, local artisans and artists, festivals, and gourmet specialties. Cotignac is a multi-lingual village known for its gourmet restaurant scene, vibrant Tuesday market, and support of Provençal artists at the local Centre d'Art la Falaise art gallery (€4 entry fee). The village even has its own microbrewery (La Tuf), and hosts concerts, outdoor cinema nights, and a wildly popular Rosé Wine Festival each July. Visitors can also go wine-tasting at Maison Mirabeau which has a boutique and wine cave on Cotignac's main boulevard, Cours Gambetta. Nearby Aups is the home of truffles. The village celebrates their small treasures during the famous January Truffle Festival. Fans can pop in to the truffle museum, Maison de la Truffe (3.50 tour fee), and cap off a visit with lunch at a colorful favorite: Chez Ta Mère (At Mom's Place), where you can get a four-course meal for €40. Reaching up to the heavens, the village of Tourtour is, along with Cotignac, labeled as "one of the most beautiful villages in France" (les plus beaux villages). At an altitude of 2083 feet, views of the valley below—dotted with olive orchards and grapevines—are well-worth the drive. As the regional names suggest, the landscape is indeed very green, for as far as the eye can see. Also known for their truffle menu and the sweeping vistas from their hilltop terrace, don't miss lunch at Bastide Tourtour restaurant. Salernes is home to artisan tile makers (the handcrafted beauties can be found in village homes), while neighboring Carces is best appreciated for Chateau Sainte Croix winery - a popular estate that hosts tastings and seasonal events. Their Provençal Christmas market is not to be missed. Interspersed with incredible natural landscapes, rolling vineyards, and the odd golden-stone Abbey or two, Green Provence is an ideal spot to experience the famous French joie de vivre—without the crowds and big price tags of the French Riviera. Housing prices run 15-20% less than coastal neighbors, and move-in ready village homes can still be had for under $200,000. Editor's Note: Areas like Green Provence are included in my fantastic book, Live Better Overseas: Hidden Places and Surprising Ways You Can Spend Less, Live Richer, and Thrive Abroad. If you've ever dreamed about trading in the stress of home for a simpler, more affordable, and more joyful life overseas, this book is your roadmap. You'll discover safe, stable escapes where you can rent beachside condos for $1,500 a month or enjoy European charm for a fraction of what it would cost back home. Best of all, we'll mail you a copy for FREE when you try International Living—but this special offer ends soon. Claim your copy now before supplies run out. Recommended Resource: Far Away from Any Crisis, in These Hidden Places Abroad, a Smaller Budget Buys a Better Life Special Offer... Reserve your print copy now, and we'll bundle it with a bunch of other useful bonuses, too! Inside: Discover the calm, overlooked, undervalued escapes where you can spend less, live richer, and thrive abroad.  Yes! Show Me How to Get a Copy     Cabo: Where Desert, Sea, and Opportunity Converge By International Living Inbox too crowded? Don't worry—if you can't keep up with our International Living Postcards every day, click here to switch to the Weekly Best of IL Postcards instead. 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