Uzès Neighbors
Have I said lately how much I love this place? You only have to go outside your door and visit Uzès neighbors to find a world of entertainment and friendly people.
Last night, I went to an art exhibit and had a late dinner with new friends. Afterward, 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 Uzès neighbors are musicians who were practicing for an upcoming “gig” in town.
All I can say is, “Watch out, Nora Jones”!
Uzès Neighbors
The art exhibit and a historic hotel
A “hotel ” practically next door to me 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 event invitation allowed me to enjoy her artwork and roam around the historic building.
Hôtel du Baron de CastilleHôtel du Baron de Castille
The Hotel du Baron de Castille is in one of the most beautiful parts of Uzès, 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 to the art on exhibit inside.
TheCathedral and 12th Century Tour Fenestrelle
Hotel du Baron de Castille entrance
The Art
The Artist
Elisa Cossonnet’s work often resembles her own image—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 graduated from the School of Fine Arts of Lyon and trained as an illustrator at the Emile Cohl School in Lyon. Her work is primarily available through art dealers with exhibitions around the world: France, Nashville (Tennessee), Brussels, Maastricht (Belgium), Amsterdam (Netherlands), and Pondicherry (India). She holds only one private showing 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 my 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!!!”
