Contributor blog post by Margo Lestz: The flaky, buttery croissant is as French as a beret or a baguette, but its roots lie in a seventeenth century Austrian battle. Croissant Origin Legend The legend of the croissant traces this pastry’s ancestry back to the 1683 Battle of Vienna… The city was …

Contributor blog post by Margo Lestz: The calisson is a small, distinctive, almond-shaped candy which first appeared in Aix-en-Provence in the fifteenth century, during the reign of Good King René. The following legend is often associated with its creation… A King, a Queen, and a Candy Jeanne de Laval wasn’t pleased …

Contributor blog post by Margo Lestz: Night Nurse Needed – Should be young and pretty. This was the ad Henri Matisse placed with the nursing school in Nice, France in 1942. He was seventy-two years-old and still working while recovering from a serious surgery. He required constant care and needed someone to …

Contributor blog post by Margo Lestz: You may know the traditional Biblical Christmas story, but in Provence, there is a bit more to it. The Provence Christmas story is told in a Nativity play called a pastorale. It incorporates the main details of the traditional Nativity but sets it in a …

Contributor blog post by Margo Lestz: I’ve just been to a wonderful exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. It was called Matisse in the Studio, and it shows how the objects that Matisse surrounded himself with appeared in his art. Henri Matisse was a collector: He had an array …

Contributor blog post by Margo Lestz: A few months ago, I wrote about the Gallic rooster and how it became the symbol of France. Then William Bahr, an online friend with whom I share an interest in the French Revolution, asked me why the rooster was called Chantecler. This caused me to do a …

My books are called Curious Histories and my blog is called the Curious Rambler. I like the word curious because of its double meaning: On the one hand, it means eager to know or learn something – which definitely applies to me: I’ve always been a curious person. But on …

Contributor blog post by Margo Lestz: Many nations are represented by the symbol of an animal. Normally, they choose one whose characteristics reflect those of the country: The United Kingdom chose the brave lion and the United States claims the majestic bald eagle. What animal do you think represents France? … The barnyard rooster. …Continue reading …

Contributor blog post by Margo Lestz: Hello Everyone, I’m happy to announce that my latest book, “Curious Histories of Provence: Tales from the South of France“ is now published. Ahh, Provence… that magical place in the south of France. It fills our minds with images of lazy, sunny days sitting …

Contributor blog post by Margo Lestz: How could a fabric that originated in India, was copied by Armenians, and outlawed in France become a symbol of Provence? The kaleidoscope of cotton fabrics that punctuate the Provençal markets today, just seem to shout “southern France.” They are decorated with cicadas, olives, …