Only 13 kilometres away from the Spanish border, this walled town is a delight of narrow cobbled streets and ancient mediaeval architecture….
How much do you know about the origins of April Fool’s Day in France?
Carnival actually dates back to the ancient Greek spring festival in honour of Dionysus, the god of wine. It was a massive binge – a celebration of excess, and later the church, unable to suppress it, wisely adapted it instead to its own traditions.
Traditional Calçotadas take place In February and March. Down as many of these tasty onions as your tummy will allow, dipped in sauces and usually served up with BBQ, live music, sardanes……
This French Christmas character, the ‘whipping father’, said to accompany Santa on his rounds on 6th December, is fortunately no longer heard of much in French tradition.
Franco believed Sardane dancers were passing on coded messages with their feet!
The ‘Père Noel du Secours Populaire’ doesn’t hand out presents, he collects them.
In some towns and villages, these Nativity scenes come out onto the streets, life-size, to convey the essence of the festivities
History tells the facts – Art tells the story
What do wooden crutches, miniature boats and faint words scrawled on an altar have in common? Each one is a thank you to God or a saint for divine intervention.