france – Julian Worker Fiction Writing

The Anti-Pope Games – Avignon, France – 1

Excerpt from the book Sports the Olympics Forgot This book describes 40 sports that ought to be played but aren’t, because I made them up. ======== The Western Schism in the Roman Catholic Church began in 1378, when the French cardinals believed the election of Pope Urban VI was invalid. They elected Clement VII as anContinue reading “The Anti-Pope Games – Avignon, France – 1”

Avignon

Sur le Pont d’Avignon On y danse, On y danse Sur le Pont d’Avignon On y danse tous en rond On the bridge of Avignon We all dance there, we all dance there On the bridge of Avignon We all dance there in a ring “Sur le Pont d’Avignon” is a song about the PontContinue reading “Avignon”

Avignon

Pont du Gard

This famous aqueduct and bridge, visible from airplanes heading to Marseilles-Provence Airport, is between Remoulins and Vers-Pont du Gardon, 13 miles from Avignon. The Pont-du-Gard was built in just five years using 51,000 tons of stone. No mortar was used. The structure is on three levels – the first two are the arches of theContinue reading “Pont du Gard”

Rennes-le-Chateau & The Da Vinci Code

There are many conspiracy theories about Rennes-le-Chateau and the fact of the matter is that without these conspiracy theories fewer visitors, including myself, would come to this fairly non-descript, though still pretty, village. Most people come because there are so many fascinating questions remaining to be answered and presumably some questions will stay unanswered unlessContinue reading “Rennes-le-Chateau & The Da Vinci Code”

Carcassonne

As part of the Treaty of the Pyrenees between France and Spain in 1659, France gained Roussillon and Perpignan, parts of Luxembourg and towns in Flanders such as Arras and Béthune. The treaty set the new border with Spain at the Pyrenees and because of this decision Carcassonne’s importance as a military base dwindled rapidlyContinue reading “Carcassonne”

Montsegur

I visited Montsegur to see the place where the Cathars had made their ‘last stand’ against the besieging forces of the King of France. I was also intrigued about the Cathar treasure many people believe was spirited away during the final days of the siege. By the beginning of 1240 most Cathar leaders, and almostContinue reading “Montsegur”

Mirepoix

The town of Mirepoix has the finest main square west of the Rhone. The whole square comprises wooden arches topped by houses in different pastel shades. The houses are all half-timbered and some of their cross beams show carvings of human heads or grotesque animals. The finest examples can be found on the Maisons desContinue reading “Mirepoix”

Arles – France

What have the Romans ever done for us? Well, in the city of Arles there’s both a Roman Arena and a Roman theatre for tourists to see. The Arena was the largest Roman building in the whole of France and staged gladiatorial contests when 30,000 people would have crammed in to witness the spectacle. LookingContinue reading “Arles – France”

France – Orange

Orange is justly famous for its Roman Arena, known as the Theatre Antique, and the Arc de Triomphe on the opposite side of the town. The Romans first arrived in 35BC and soon provided Aurisio, as it was known to them, with its two most visited sights of today. Aurisio was founded as a retirementContinue reading “France – Orange”