Have I said lately how much I love this place? You only have to go outside your door in Uzes to find a world of entertainment and friendly people.
Last night I went to an art exhibit and a late dinner with new friends. Afterwards, heading back to my apartment, I heard music pouring down onto the street from the front of my building. At first I thought it was someone’s radio. Then I saw a woman standing at a window above. She was singing.
I stood there for a few minutes enjoying the music. The woman in the window looked down and I met her glance with applause. She seemed pleased so I hurried inside the building, ran up the landing, peeked in the open door of her apartment, and accepted the invitation to come in.
What a treat! My new neighbors are musicians and they were practicing for an upcoming “gig” in town.
All I can say is “watch out Nora Jones”!
The art exhibit and a historic hotel
There’s a “hotel ” practically next door to me that houses the Uzes office of Emile Garcin, a prominent real estate operation in France and beyond. The Hotel Du Baron De Castille is one of the first sights you see as you drive into Uzes. I attended an exhibition at the hotel, hosted by Uzes artist Elisa Cossonnet. The invitation to the event gave me an opportunity to both enjoy her artwork, and to roam around the historic building.
Hôtel du Baron de Castille
Hôtel du Baron de Castille
The Hotel du Baron de Castille is in one of the most beautiful parts of Uzes, across from the Cathedral, the Tour Fenestrelle, and the Pavillion Racine (valley). The “hotel”, or “townhome” as it means in French, was built by Gabriel Joseph de Froment d’Argilliers, the Baron of Castille in the 18th century.
It was a perfect complement for the art on exhibit inside.
The Cathedral and 12th Century Tour Fenestrelle
Hotel du Baron de Castille entrance
The Art
The Artist
Elisa Cossonnet uses a resemblance of her own image in most of her work — or at least the examples on display. The artist herself is a “tiny bit of a thing” leaving you to wonder where she stores all that talent.
I talked with Elisa only briefly. She was busy entertaining guests and drawing their images.
Elisa is a graduate of the School of Fine Arts of Lyon and she trained as an illustrator at the Emile Cohl school in Lyon. Her work is available mostly through art dealers with exhibitions around the world: France, Nashville (Tennessee), Brussels, Maastricht (Belgium), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Pondicherry (India) She holds only one private showing of her own each year in Uzes, her hometown.
Fortunately, I was there to enjoy it.
The music.
This art exhibit came with music.
Even the guests joined in.
The People
One of the favorite parts of my evening was people-watching.
Husband of the artist
… and taking photos of camera-shy guests (with their permission, of course!)
Did I mention: “I love this place!!!”
For more information:
Emile Garcin Luxury Real Estate
Categories: Around France, Blog, Chapter 4: Life in France Part Two, Loving Art, Loving Music
Great blog, enjoyed it so much ! Music, art a chance meeting, smiles and great photos of it all -how wonderful !
Thank you, John. It’s music time here in Uzès right now and it’s wonderful. But this was a special happening. We still stay in touch although she lives Italy. You’ll enjoy it all!
What an excellent evening…now you have the classical pianist and the singer in your building!
Unfortunately the pianist moved out. His aunt passed. Now he’s allowing some of his musician friends to stay there. Lucky me!