stories about france – Julian Worker Fiction Writing

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”

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”

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”

Toulouse

Toulouse is known as the “Pink City” because of the large number of buildings built from brick. These buildings include The Saint Sernin basilica, the Jacobins church and the modern art museum of Les Abattoirs. Toulouse was also involved in the Albigensian Crusade of the 13th Century and was the place where the leaderContinue reading “Toulouse”