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, …

Contributor blog post by Margo Lestz: When you think of French writer, Victor Hugo, you probably think of his classic works, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Notre Dame de Paris)” or “Les Misérables.” You probably wouldn’t associate him with the Joker, that mad super-villain with the maniacal laugh who is …

Southwest Provence, around Arles and the Camargue, has a very distinctive culture: it’s a horse and bull culture. This marshy area, unsuitable for development, has been of little interest to humans over the years. Thus, it was a perfect place for herds of wild white horses, black cattle, and a multitude …

Contributor blog post by Margo Lestz: The French are a superstitious lot. They have many traditions that predict whether good or bad luck will follow a certain action. One such superstition states that you should never lay bread on the table upside down. It’s widely known that this action invites …

Contributor blog post by Margo Lestz: Have you heard of cat cafés? No, they are not where cats go to have their morning coffee and read the newspaper. They are for us humans, and they are pretty much like any other café… except there are cats roaming around. Normally, you …

Contributor blog post by Margo Lestz: Aix-en-Provence, the City of a Thousand Fountains Aix-en-Provence is known as the city of 1,000 fountains. However, since the folks of this area have a reputation for exaggeration, we should probably take that with a grain of salt. The real number might be closer to …

Contributor blog post by Margo Lestz: As the holiday season approaches, I hope everyone is getting ready for some happy times with friends and family, or maybe just a nice, quiet break from the normal routine. Whatever type of season you are planning, I hope it is filled with joy. As …

Contributor blog post by Margo Lestz: Sur le Pont d’Avignon The Avignon bridge is known around the world today because of the famous children’s song, Sur le Pont d’Avignon (On the Bridge of Avignon). In medieval times, it was also a well-known bridge, but not because of this song – …

Contributor blog post by Margo Lestz: Did you know that the city of Nice, France almost had a 49 foot (15 meter) tall statue of the Virgin Mary standing atop the Colline du Chateau (Castle Hill)? In the 1980s, the idea of the “Virgin on the hill” came to the …

Contributor blog post by Margo Lestz: Slender, conical cypress trees are everywhere in Provence, but there is more to them than meets the eye. These ubiquitous trees may have a hidden meaning depending on where and how they are planted. …Continue reading here for Margo’s post as she investigates the curious history …