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Celebrating
travel, culture, language and l'art de vivre |
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Current ArticleWelcome to French Affaires Weekly, a once-a-week journey to a delicious part of France or French culture. Recently, we introduced: French Take-Out ~ La France à emporter™ At the end of each French Affaires Weekly article, we're including a great tip on how to bring a bit of France back to the U.S. or a unique place where France can be found stateside. Check out this week's tip below and stay tuned for more fun ways to keep the French experience going 'chez vous'...  September 9, 2009 A couple of weeks ago via French Affaires Weekly, we took a photo tour of Aix-en-Provence and its remarkable collection of oratoires urbains, mini places of prayer affixed to houses and buildings. But the sacred art in Provence doesn't end there. There are les églises (churches), les chapelles (chapels), les cimetières (cemeteries) and les cathédrales (cathedrals). Pedestaled crosses of all shapes and sizes are on view both in town and countryside. These three crosses from the hilltop village of Les Baux-de-Provence are striking from any angle.
I think I am the most moved, however, by the solitary crosses along
rural routes. Their weatherbeaten iron and stone facades hold a
sacred space through sun, wind and rain. One of my favorites is
this simple croix along a quiet lane outside the village
of Maussane-les-Alpilles, just down the hill from Les
Baux.
Before leaving Maussane and its environs, I like to visit another sacred sight located along the main street of town. Erected in remembrance of the great plague of 1720 that ravaged Provence, this free-standing oratoire houses the figure of Saint Roch, known for his healing powers against la peste. In olden times, spring water from la Fontaine des fièvres (the Fountain of Fevers) filled the small basin at the base of this oratoire.
French Take-Out ~ La France à emporter™ Our sacred Provence tour ends with this private chapel on an estate
outside Aix-en-Provence. Cette chapelle has remained in the
same family for generations. Scores of French family members have
been married there.  I was reminded of it earlier this year when I attended a French-American
wedding in Florida. The bride was French, and the groom American.
The ceremony was held in both French and English, with Notre
père (the Lord's prayer, literally 'the Our Father')
as part of the service. Here is the French version which I took
away as my souvenir:  |
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