Old Postcard Wednesday--Pond Mauguio, Languedoc, France and Hermitage Saint Maxime, Riez-la-Romaine, France

Languedoc

Pond Mauguio Fishing Scene

Hermitage Saint Maxime
Laugh (Haute-Provence)
Listed chapel, built in the 17 century on the ruins of the Basilica raised to 5 century by St. Maximus, bishop of Riez.
At the bottom of the hill, left Laugh-la-Romaine

(Approximation of printing on back by Google Translate.
Feel free to correct in comments. )

In last week's Old Postcard Wednesday I posted a gorgeous shot of a Provence mountain railway scene after freezing fog. As the back of the postcard was fully covered with a handwritten note in French, I mentioned that perhaps if Owen of the Magic Lantern Show blog stopped by he could possibly translate it for us. Bless his heart, he did exactly that and you can read the translation in his comments at the link above.

In my comments after that post I mentioned to one of you that, "(The old postcard) came into my hands in the nicest way. I placed a goodly-size order with a vintage postcard seller in France, and when my order arrived she had included a small envelope of cards with scenes from around Provence, circa 1970-80s, so probably not old enough to be considered vintage but she made a big hit with me!"

In looking over the remaining five "freebie" postcards in that envelope I realized that each one is covered with notes in the same handwriting and are signed by Papa. Our train-in-freezing-fog card is card #1 of 3 comprising one full message from Papa to Genevieve and Georges. Another two cards appear to comprise another full message, with the remaining card containing a full message unto itself.

Now. This is asking a lot of my friend Owen, but I am going to go on faith that he will return and will be so kind as to again translate for us, this time cards #2 and #3 to wrap up Papa's first letter-via-postcards to Genevieve and Georges. This explains why there are two postcards today. What fun for me and certainly for you because you will have the good fortune of getting to know Owen by way of his translating here, which would -- I have no doubt -- lead you to his blog, which is a wonder of wonders.

Thank you in advance to Owen and thank You for traveling along with me on this 1978 trip in France.


A bit about Languedoc, via Wikipedia:

Languedoc (English pronunciation: /ˌlɒŋɡəˈdɒk/; French: [lɑ̃ɡdɔk]; Occitan: Lengadòc[ˌleŋɡɔˈðɔ]) is a former province of France, now continued in the modern-day régions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées in the south of France, and whose capital city was Toulouse, now in Midi-Pyrénées. It had an area of approximately 42,700 km² (16,490 sq. miles).

For the language called Langue d'oc, see Occitan language.


History

The Mediterranean coast of Languedoc was settled by the Greeks, Phoenicians and Romans, and invaded by the Alamanni, Vandals, Visigoths (Septimania), and Saracens. Languedoc was known in the Middle Ages as the county of Toulouse, an independent county which was in theory part of the kingdom of France. In the 12th century, Languedoc was the center of the Cathar religious movement. The Roman Catholic Church declared them heretics, and the Albigensian Crusade wiped them out. As a consequence, the county of Toulouse was taken by the crown of France in 1271, (the county of Toulouse was a vassal of the crown of France, but had many connections with the Crown of Aragon, which included Catalonia) and has been part of France ever since. Later the name given to the area was Languedoc, literally meaning "language of oc", from the word "yes" in the local Occitan language ("oc", as opposed to "oïl", later "oui", in the north of France). The kings of France made Languedoc one of the provinces of the kingdom, and established the parlement of Languedoc in Toulouse. The parlement and the province were abolished at the time of the French Revolution, like all the other parlements and provinces of France.

A bit about Riez-La-Romaine and Hermitage Saint Maxime, from Provence Beyond:

Riez is in the rich Colostre valley, where the Auvestre river joins the Colostre. The rivers might be small, but the valley is wide, and runs southwest to join the lower Verdon and Durance rivers. Riez is the "Capitale de la Lavande", and there are huge lavender fields throughout the surrounding countryside.

This ancient village, dating from the 1st century, sits in a tight oval shape, with the domed hill of "Mont St. Maxime" behind. . .

This "mountain" is only a 120 m higher than the village, but has a commanding view of the surrounding countryside. While the lower village only goes back a couple of thousand years, this was the ancient hillfort capital of the Reii, a Celto-Ligurian tribe. Today the hilltop has a park under huge trees, with a great view, and the 17th-century Chapelle St. Maxime with its 20th-century nuns in residence. A small river flows past the front of the village, with a small, ancient double-arched bridge.

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