Having much travelled and lived for many years in large urban centers, my husband and I were craving for a peaceful place to put down our bags: Michel to devote more time for his books (he is an avid collector of rare editions), myself to pursue my passion for Mosaic in a new location. This is how I came to organize a MOSAIC ACADEMY in the village of Crillon-le-Brave.
In this well-preserved part of Provence, we fell in love with the quietness of the surroundings, with the beauty of nearby vineyards, of ancient olive groves and lavender fields stretched at the foot of the mineral majesty of Mont Ventoux guarding the horizon. We enjoyed the clear skies and were won over by the open welcome we received from the people of Crillon, true and warm-hearted Provençaux. An added feature beckoned: the remaining presence in the region of a long-ago tradition in the art of mosaic, a tradition attested by the Roman antiques of nearby Vaison-la-Romaine, Arles and Nimes
There was more : not far from my studio, mosaïcs in Vaison-la-Romaine, Nîmes or Arles were bearing witness to a long presence of the Roman Empire.
MOSAIC ACADEMY aims at offering more than a place to apprentice in the technique of this ancient art so dear to my heart. It is also be a place to relax and meet other people engaged in the same pursuit, a place to forget for a moment all the world’s turmoil.
I would love to see trainees guided by my favorite motto of “laisser du temps au temps” (give Time enough time). It is our hope that their discovery of mosaic will come from hands-down work accomplished with time-honored care and devotion. Through our leisurely conversations in the gardens surrounding the studio, they will also become acquainted with the history of mosaic across past centuries
Crillon sits at the heart of Comtat-Venaissin, a region where to taste the traditional cuisine of Provence, sample the vines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape or Gigondas, and those of the Côtes du Ventoux, such as the delicious Beaume-de-Venise. It is a place to stroll through the stalls of the many village markets with their displays of thousands wonders from local artisans, fruit and vegetable growers, beekeepers, herb-gatherers and makers of all sorts of fragrant staples.
As for those accompanying the trainees, they will have a chance to explore nearby Avignon, the old city of the Popes, Nîmes, Arles, Vaison and Orange with their splendid Roman monuments. They will find plenty of outdoor enjoyment in the hills of Luberon or the panoramic Dentelles de Montmirail (a lace-like series of mountain tops), as well as a profusion of perched villages such as Roussillon, Venasque, Le Baroux, Lacoste, etc. where time seems to have stopped.
Those looking for sport activities will find a limitless choice of itineraries to be covered on foot or on horse back. Cyclists will find a choice training ground at Bédoin, a stone throw from Crillon-le-Brave
MOSAIC ACADEMY
38 chemin des Carrières - 84410 CRILLON LE BRAVE • FRANCE • phone: +33 (0) 6 81 93 73 19
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