A French Family Heirloom
📍Musée Louvre, Paris

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An heirloom is considered anything of value that is passed from one generation to the next. Sometimes, it’s something that has substantial monetary value. Other times, it’s simply something attached to a significant memory or moment within a particular family.

I was incredibly close with my maternal grandparents. They are a huge factor in the person I am today. While they’ve been gone for many years, I feel very fortunate to have countless memories with them to cling to and unique trinkets from them that I will always hold dear. The most cherished piece of jewelry I own, apart from my wedding ring, is my grandma’s signet ring with her monogram engraved. I save it for very special occasions to be able to pass it along for Baby Kennedy in the future.

A few months ago, my mom rediscovered a box of my grandma’s things. Inside was a beautiful silk scarf, lovingly saved and perfectly preserved. It still had the faintest note of my grandma’s signature scent, Charlie Red. Even more astounding was that this scarf still had the tags attached. It was an accessory seemingly suspended in time. After some extensive research, I found that the scarf came from a department store in Cherbourg, France, a port city in Normandy, and was purchased in the late 40s.

My grandpa was a career naval man and found himself stationed in Cherbourg after World War II. All of this family history woven into a simple scarf makes the item absolutely priceless. In a post-World War II Europe, I see my grandpa (in his uniform) thinking of my beautiful grandma, thousands of miles away, and shopping at a luxury department store to find her the perfect souvenir. Even through his regimented military-like discipline, my grandpa was a very thoughtful soul and a world-class gift-giver. I know my grandma would have considered this scarf too precious to wear, so she kept it safe. Here we are nearly 80 years later, with the scarf now an heirloom that continues to be loved by a third generation.

As I wore this scarf through Paris during our babymoon, I couldn’t help but feel that four generations of women in my family were present: my grandma, my mom (who gifted me the scarf), myself, and our future baby girl (who will be named after my mom’s side of the family). My dear grandparents sadly never met David, and I wish they were still here every day. Instead, I cherish the moments where I can feel their presence and reconnect with my family’s history.

Love from Paris,
Katie

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La Mirande and Avignon
📍 Avignon, France

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The final stop on our Provence road trip made sense logistically and was highly recommended by many of my fellow travelers. Avignon is one of the larger cities in the region and is full of incredible dining and history. After being on the road for nearly two weeks, we wanted to slow down and relax the day before our travels back to the United States. Our hotel, La Mirande, was the perfect place for just that. As one final send off for our wonderful French vacation, here’s how we spent the day in Avignon and at the La Mirande hotel.

Explore Within the Medieval Walls

We arrived at the Avignon Train Station to drop off our rental car fairly early. Our first greeting to this historical city was our Uber getting nearly stuck in the tiny streets within the medieval walls. We checked in at La Mirande, dropped off our bags, and began our day. One of Avignon’s claims to fame is that it was the seat of the papacy between 1309 and 1377. Although the pope’s presence has long since transferred to Naples and the Vatican, its influence remains. The Palais des Papes, the former papal residence, takes up most of the historic square and is the most visited site in Avignon. La Mirande is just across the street, and we were greeted by incredible palace views from our hotel room. The Palais des Papes also offers an extensive public garden and park with stunning views of the Rhône.

Check In To La Mirande

After an entire morning of exploring Avignon, we looked forward to checking in at our hotel. The site of La Mirande once hosted a cardinal palace in the 14th century. During the 17th century, ruins were used to create a hotel, and it has been one ever since, although under a few different names. Currently owned by the Stein family, they conducted extensive research to recreate the aesthetic of an 18th century aristocratic residence. I may not be an expert on that particular point in European history, but I think they did a spectacular job! Each room, both the private rooms and common spaces, are filled with stunning fabrics and vintage wallpapers. However, even with that grandeur, it still wonderfully lived in, like we were coming home to a family estate instead of a luxury hotel. That truly is a testament to how wonderful the staff and I could recommend La Mirande solely on them alone.

Relax With Afternoon Tea

One of the elements I was looking forward to most at La Mirande was their afternoon tea service. Although the hotel was at full occupancy, we felt we had the entire place to ourselves and sincerely enjoyed having a cocktail in the atrium. We sat in the salon for tea time and indulged our sweet tooth with their beloved cheesecake and marble pound cake. The doors to their courtyard were open, letting an incredible breeze wander through the room. This room, in particular, gave me so much interior inspiration. I couldn’t help but take hundreds of photos of the antiques, fabrics, and patterns used throughout the hotel. Afterward, we went back to our room and took our sweet time getting ready for dinner.

Dinner at a Michelin Starred Restaurant

When you visit La Mirande, you not only enjoy a luxury hotel, but you can also take advantage of a Michelin starred restaurant just steps away. For our last evening in France, we had a table for two on the garden terrace. The cuisine is described by Chef Florent Pietravalle as ‘light and tasty,’ using organic produce and regional wines. Everything about this meal was suburb from start to finish. There’s not one thing I would change about the entire experience.

And just like that, our trip to France was over. The twelve days, split between Paris and Provence, were magical. It felt like a second honeymoon for David and me. The icing on the cake was the final night in Avignon and our stay at La Mirande. Thank you so much for following along on my European adventures, and stay tuned for some Manhattan content.

Love from France,
Katie

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Chateau d’Estoublon, Established 1489
📍Fontvieille, France

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How often do you get to visit a 500 year old vineyard? The age of buildings and businesses found in Europe never ceases to amaze this history buff. While in the South of France, I wanted to make sure I took time to enjoy the local wines found in the Luberon region. While researching, I stumbled across the Château d’Estoublon and knew it was a must visit! Better still, it came recommended by one of my favorite fellow travelers, Stacie Flinner. Established in 1489, here’s what you need to know about Château d’Estoublon.

A Quick Visit to Fontvieille

Chateau d’Estoublon is just a quick 10 minute drive away from the commune of Fontvieille. David and I arrived too early for our reservation, so we decided to hop back in the car and explore. Because it was Mother’s Day in France, this tiny town of 3,500 was buzzing, especially at the local café. We ordered a coffee and croissant to hold us over, and people watched for a spell. Afterward, we wandered the streets, admiring the local architecture. I loved the monument in the town square that memorialized the French Revolution. No matter what century you look at, France is just so rich with history.

About Chateau d’Estoublon

Chateau d’Estoublon lies along the southern end of the Alpilles mountains, the range brought to life by Vincent Van Gogh. Here they have been making and perfecting olive oils and wines since 1489. Their olive oils are frequently named as some of the best in the world! Alongside the winery lies an 18th century château that would make for the perfect wedding venue. Becoming part of Airelles in 2019, you can also stay in one of the 22 rooms, ten bedrooms, and suites to make this castle feel like home. The 341 acres on the property are simply pristine and seem like it’s straight out of a provencial fairy tale.

Lunch at La Table

Although I was looking forward to seeing the estate in person, the main reason for our visit was lunch. La Table served was one of the most incredible meals I’ve ever had on their sunlit courtyard. Since it was a holiday, the space was full of celebrating families, and I was so thankful to have gotten reservations for the cookout. Of course, our meal started with the vineyard’s own wine: red and white for his and hers. What came next was a feast of perfectly prepared appetizers, meats, and vegetables. There was hardly any space for it all on our tiny table. With my tastebuds soaring, this is one of those meals that I will cherish forever. Chef Wim Van Gorp is a master!

Explore the Vineyard

After such a filling meal, exploring the vineyard was a much needed activity. Chateau d’Estoublon offers several tour options where you can intimately learn about their olive oils and/or wines. The visit begins with a guided tour of the vineyard and olive grove and ends with tastings. They are so accommodating and will customize the tasting to match your preference. This is also a great option if you can’t get a dining reservation but still want to explore and get to know all that they offer. 

Shop for Souvenirs

Our visit’s only disappointment was learning that Chateau d’Estoublon doesn’t ship to the United States. Luckily, I had planned for this by being sure to leave room in my suitcase for at least two bottles. The Shop had so many varieties of olive oils and wines that it was difficult to choose. I prioritized a bottle of the Rouge Château 2018 and Blanc Château 2015, the years David and I got married and started dating. We also purchased a bottle of their award-winning extra virgin olive oil. Since I have no idea when we’ll return to Chateau d’Estoublon next, I’ll be saving all three bottles for special occasions. If you happen to live in Europe, lucky you because they deliver to 27 different countries.

In all our travels through the South of France, visiting Chateau d’Estoublon seemed like the quintessential Provence experience. Whenever I travel, I just feel so fortunate on not only finding incredible restaurants or experiences but being able to snag a reservation. When it comes to traveling, especially internationally, luck just may be a piece of the equation.

Love from France,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.