If it’s Friday, it must be France …
Bonjour! Last week I posted two photos of Entrevaux and promised more. Voilà!
Perched at the meeting point of two valleys in the mountains north of Nice , Entrevaux is one of those intriguing, ancient villages so easy to stumble upon in Europe.
The 2-hour train ride from Nice didn’t live up to our expectations. One could drive the 60 km in half the time, but when Entrevaux appeared before us we were glad to be there .
I hope you have a few minutes to take a meander through the narrow, twisting alleyways of this medieval village. Be intrigued by the tall, slender houses, many in disrepair, with precarious staircases, as well as curious small squares, primitive fountains and a 16thC gem of a church.
Overlooking the Var river and protected by a 17C citadel sitting even higher above the village, it guards a once highly strategic approach to the south. There’s even a drawbridge!
With a turbulent and rich two thousand-year-old history, Entrevaux was officially established in the 11thC. Its greatest glory appears to have occurred in 1536 when the inhabitants bravely retook the town from capture by Charles Quint of Spain and Austria and returned it to the King of France.
There are many small communities throughout Europe, with colourful histories like this, that struggle to stay alive after so many centuries. Regional economy falters, infrastructure crumbles, young people leave.
My imagination is captured. How about yours?
The wind whipped through the cramped passageways this particular day, creating dramatic shifts in light and shadow. My camera shutter steamed. Stories begged to be told.
Meander as you please.
I would be embarrassed to tell you how long it took me to put this slideshow together. I just hope I remember for the next time!
Oh … and let me share some good news! The cover of The Bridge Club, A Novel was one of eight featured as good examples of effective cover art in this post: book covers from BookBub Unbound. The talented, clever, and always good-natured Carrie Spencer did all the hard work in putting that cover together. She also formatted the cover for The Promise of Provence. A toast to her!
I was notified the week before last that The Promise of Provence
received a Finalist award in the 2013 USA Best Book Award.
Hearing from satisfied readers and receiving awards guarantees to inspire and motivate every author. If I end this post, I might even make a good bump with my word count in my next novel this evening.
I sent out my third newsletter this week and after I hit “publish” discovered a typo in the FIRST line! Ack! How does that happen? Actually I know how it happens. Writing too late into the night is how it happens! Never mind, but I do apologize. The correct spelling is “vieille” … sigh …
In spite of the odd typo, if you would like to join my newsletter mailing list there’s a link on this page and I would be happy to see your name added. That mailing list makes me smile every time I look at it since everyone is there because they contacted me. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate hearing from you and value your interest and support. Merci mille fois!
Bon weekend tout le monde! What do you have planned?
Patricia Sands 
Loved the slide show. What a cute village. I’ll put it on my list for my next visit to France.
Thanks, Lin. It’s a very interesting place but definitely not a tourist destination. No shops or galleries but plenty of intrigue and atmosphere. I forgot to mention the hiking in the area. The climb up to the fortress at the top would be challenging in itself!
Wonderful memories of carefree days. Congratulations on the awards. They are well deserved.
Thanks, Sheri. I’m sending you my warmest wishes for a blessed Thanksgiving for you and Tom.
Amazing pics! That villiage looks like something out of a movie. Congrats on the awards!
Thanks, Phil! Villages like these fascinate me. So much history yet they struggle to stay alive.
Congratulations on your well deserved award! I am celebrating…
Thank you … celebrate well. Perhaps we can raise a glass together one day!
Ah…that would be wonderful…
That slide show was definitely worth the trouble. I was especially intrigued, as ever, by the doors and doorways. Great shots!
Honestly, Margaret, I’m sure you have a wealth of doors, doorways, windows, shutters, peeling paint, crumbling walls. Its all such eye candy isn’t it? Irresistible and intriguing! The slideshow is actually pretty easy to do … it’s just that I’m such a technodork!
Beautiful photographs! The small little villages really are such gems and wonderful to see and discover. I prefer the non-tourist villages – they are real – letting you see and feel how one really lives in Europe. And a big congratulations on your award!
Oh, and I’m so sorry I negelected to say…. many congratulations on your award.
LOL – many thanks!
Is this village part of ‘Les plus beaux villages de France’? It certainly reminds me of St Cirq Lapopie in the Lot Department. They are really breathtaking. Thanks for sharing.
No, absolutely not. It is breathtaking in its own struggling way but very much in disrepair. I’m pleased you liked learning about Entrevaux.
And well done with the slide show. It works wonderfully!
Merci! I agree with you wholeheartedly about the non-tourist villages. They hold a mystique … and yet are sad places in another way. One wonders how some of them survive. I would love to spend a year discovering, photographing and writing about them. Hmmm – dashing out to buy a lottery ticket!
Congratulations on your Finalist Award! Well done! I’m just a teensy bit jealous – is that alright?
Anne-Marie, you are going to be in the spotlight on this blog in a matter of minutes! I’m always more than happy to talk about your fabulous book here!
So enjoyed this meander… makes me yearn for a visit to France! Many congratulations on your brilliant award too 🙂
Thanks, Caroline! The slideshow is a nice way to bring a reader along on a meander. Let me know if you plan a visit to France, it would be such fun to meet up there!
Congrats Pat! You are rolling!
Loved the introduction to this little village. I will have to go back some day.
Thanks, Susie! These kind of villages are intriguing and always tell me they have stories we need to know!
Congratulations and best wishes on your award Patricia!
Thanks for stopping by, Meg!
Fabulous photos, Patricia! You are a very talented photog and hearty congrats on that award, you really deserve it! Lxx
Great photos! Congrats on your accolades, too.
I had not seen this before, so I am lucky to see it now for the first time. It looks fabulous! It is indeed wonderful that we can get so much from you. And, although late, congratulations on your award!!!