Our big destination for today was the Resistance museum in the small village of Fountaine de Vaucluse. This was our third visit here, but we never get tired of it. Watching the French television series, Un village français (A French Village) last winter stimulated our desire to return to this museum.
The museum focuses on life in France during the German occupation and details how difficult it was for the average citizen. Every aspect of life was covered: how underground newspapers were printed, schools, food, travel, fashion and even entertainment. It's so hard to imagine how life continue with any normalcy during that time. Yet it did in so many ways.
An anti war poster by Matisse
A government poster promoting gas masks for the whole family.
All rubber was needed by the Germans, so inventive ways were needed to replace bicycle tires; such as cork from wine bottles.
The head of the French resistance, Jean Moulin, was turned in by a fellow country man and quickly executed by the Germans.
Anti Russian/Communist/Bolchevik & Jewish propaganda posters were everywhere.
A cook book of recipes that don't require butter or olive oil both of which were consumed by the German army.
French men were at first recruited to go work camps in Germany to help build various weapons. They were falsely lead to believe there work would free other prisoners. Eventually they were given no choice.
The Resistance museum is located in the beautiful village of Fountaine de Vaucluse which takes its name from the natural spring source of La Sorgue river which flows right through the village. The water is very rich in nutrients and also flows at a tremendous speed, creating a crystal clear river that is great for kayaking.
Overlooking la Sorgue are the remains of a chateau built around 1000 AD, embellished in the 1200's and destroyed in the 1400's. If you look closely at the water, you'll notice some black & white vertical poles which are suspended from cables and used for kayak competitions.
The Resistance museum
The breakfast table at Le Mas Perreal. The highlight for this morning was melon soup!
Leaving Fountaine de Vaucluse we headed for the tiny village of Joucas that has a small cafe with incredible views of the Luberon valley. This is one of our favorite spots for a relaxing second coffee.
After lunch we drove to a laundromat in Apt. What better way to spend a 100° afternoon. It's a dry heat as they say and the one benefit is that you don't need to use the dryers, just spread out your clothes and they'll dry in minutes!
We spent the rest of the afternoon at our B&B, escaping from the heat, folding laundry, and napping. For dinner we headed to the hilltop village of Caseneuve and perhaps our favorite restaurant in Provence, Le Sanglier Paresseux (the lazy boar). Watching the sunset over the Luberon valley as we dined on France's best cuisine is tough to beat.
Use your imagination, these two amuse bouches were delicious, but I can't remember what was in them.
Tartar of Jewfish
French Veal
Valhrona Chocolate
Believe it or not, this was one of our more restful days!
2 comments:
This brings back memories of our time time touring these same places.
Just savoring your photos has given me a lovely tour. The museum looks fascinating, and the views and villages...so lovely.
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