Posters of performances are plastered all over town during the Theater Festival in Avignon, France, held throughout the month of July each year. Though most of the plays are performed in French only, there are ways for a non-French speaker like me to enjoy the festival. Many are classics such as Shakespeare, which can be … Read more
The perched village of Gordes is a gorgeous hilltop village in Provence, France. Crowning a hill in the Luberon mountains, Gordes is visible for miles around. These days, tourism is the main economic activity in the village, thus this picture perfect location is today an asset. But it wasn’t always so. Throughout history, the wealth … Read more
I tilted my chin up and let the sunshine warm my face. Day after day in Provence brought crystal blue skies and fresh breezes that kept the sweltering summer heat at bay. I had come to southern France for its sunshine, but not for the same reason as most sun worshipers. What drew me were … Read more
Between the Middle Ages and the French Revolution, Cavaillon, France, was home to a significant Jewish population. While Jewish communities in other parts of Europe were suffering horrific pogroms, the Jews of Provence were luckier. The Popes of Avignon, recognizing that Jesus was a Jew, decreed that they be treated with tolerance. However, because Jews … Read more
Though it was tiny, I really liked this pretty little cloister inside the Cathedral in Cavaillon, France. Unlike other cloisters, which are meticulously trimmed and neat, this one was a riot of unkempt wildflowers. Somehow, that added to its charm, as did the beam of sunlight that fell on its cross, turning it to burnished … Read more
