Well, I was somewhat interested in seeing the theater and arch but mainly figured there would be a charming town to explore. But even without the music, I’m not sure I would have been that charmed. I do think I have one more post in me about it.
I thought of you as I decided to not go into the fact that Orange used to be a principality!
I think I read that, but I don't remember why. So best left alone.
The theater’s festival is focused on classical music and opera, and thers is a retro pop music program the rest of the summer along with a short techno festival. Avignon as you know is theater, although I assume there are some musical events at some point during the summer. Our daughter played at Avignon a few years back but we didn't go. It's another mob scene.
Whatever bureaucrat came up with the idea of the English-language music blaring out everywhere should be forced to listen to it for hours on end. What a way to ruin a downtown.
Agreed! And I do know it was a city decision, as opposed to an idea by the merchants’ association, because I asked about it at my hotel. Very odd and annoying.
Public (mall) music, yuck! Reminds me of another surreal experience, namely Christmas time 1992-3 in West (Muslim) Beirut, hearing Christmas music like "Jingle Bells" all over the downtown.
The Iranians have a term for this, gharb-zadeh or "west-struck" (like "dumbstruck"), but that does not explain Orange or other western cities...
Thank you for your comment. Yes, it was a very weird disconnect, something like yours in Beirut. I can’t imagine the city officials being “Anglo-struck” but it would have appeared that way.
I was in Dole over Christmas and they piped Christmas music and some DJ talking over loudspeakers through their small downtown. Lovely city (I recommend a visit); terrible decision.
Yes but I’m afraid Christmas music has become pretty ubiquitous in France. Maybe it’s not in all cities, but certainly in a lot of shops and supermarkets. The DJ sounds especally obnoxious — I don’t think that’s very frequent.
I was in Dole in April for a few days. Found it a lovely small city. Very French, no evidence of a homeless problem. The market place was a good regional one. And, there was not music on the streets.
Dole is definitely on my list! I’ve scoped it out a bit online. Now I just need to get retired to make those more faraway (from me) destinations more reachable. Good to know you enjoyed it.
I was in Aix-les-Baines in April for a week. Lovely place. Very clean, very interesting, lots to see, lots of nature in town and surrounding the town. Snow capped Alps in the not too far distance. The largest natural lake in all of France, and not one piece of litter in the lake by the heavily used docks!!! I highly recommend. AND, speakers everywhere in the "new" commercial area. Same reason as in Orange.
Boo hoo. I find even the music pumped out into the locker room here in Angers to be unpleasant. In Dole, at least the music in the locker rooms was calming.
In Ireland when we say 'shattering' it means extremely tired. We covered long distances walking in the city over the three days. And it was very busy with tourists.
I’m familiar with this meaning from my British friends (sorry but I don’t have any Irish friends IRL) but now realize, thinking about the comment from @Bobby Frank that in American English, it has a stronger, emotional meaning, maybe more like “shook me to the core”?
Yes, three days sounds pretty intense. Do you wear good walking shoes? I used to wear slightly dressier shoes in big cities -- not heels or anything, but not sports shoes -- and would find that my feet got so tired I would be exhausted by 5pm. Now I wear proper Nike (or other brand) walking shoes and find it makes all the difference. Too bad if they're not that attractive, so many people are shod like that now, including Parisians!
I haven't returned to Orange in years. Well, guess I'll take it off the list of "Must-Return-To-Cities" right now!
Wondering what you think about the "Arc de Triomphe" in Montpellier and la Promenade du Peyrou around it? It's quite majestic.
Last but not least: les cigales. Like you I find the big ones a bit creepy. I, for one, am glad they hide in the daytime while delivering the "concerts" so typical of Provence.
Yes, unless you really want to see the Theater, I think you can take a pass. I much preferred the next city I went to…coming soon!
I hate to admit that I have never been to la Promenade du Peyrou! I actually don’t know Montpellier very well despite having been there several dozen times. I haven’t even been to the Musée Fabre! It was mainly a shopping destination when our daughters were younger, and we tended to just hang around the hyper-centre.
I like to get down to the Hérault (Mèze as you know, Pézenas, Sète, le lac de Salagou, even Lodève) but for a big city, I prefer to go to Toulouse or Paris.
We were just in Orange last month and did the immersive experience you described at the Orange Theatre- it was interesting but not necessarily something I need to do again (or at least often…).
Like you we didn’t find Orange captivating (although the intact theater wall is indeed spectacular) but we did go to Tarascon another day (to see the Souleiado Museum, as I loved the now defunct Pierre Deux brand here in the US and still love some of the other Indiennes fabric brands one can only find in France, like Olivades and Valdrome) and quite liked it, faded though it is- Tarascon was an unexpected find! And sadly we didn’t have time to explore its apparently impressive castle. Have you explored Tarascon (yet)?
I thought the immersive experience was fun and interesting for five extra euros. I’ve seen others, that I haven’t done, that were quite expensive and I’m not sure I’d go much further price-wise. There is also the audio guide for the theater, which maybe would have been a good choice, but people seemed to have to be sitting baking in the stands to take advantage of that, so I skipped it.
I’ve heard of Tarascon but have never been there, so thank you for the tip. I don’t live all that far from Provence, so do plan to go back. Interestingly, the Orange museum, which I’m saving for a second post, had a gallery about Orange’s own, apparently major, “Indiennes” factory, which I found quite fascinating.
Oh I know, some of them are cute and I kind of like the single cicada (not cricket, I corrected my copy) that you see on a lot of houses down there. But too many of them remind me of that biblical plague…
I entered the cathedral to the tune of Mrs. Robinson; I guess nothing says Notre Dame like a song associated with an adulterous alcoholic.
I am definitely unfamiliar with Provence. I once spent two days in Cannes with a small group of Clarion University students, and that’s all. Being from northern France, I was always a little prejudiced against Provence, the region of France most cherished by tourists. Maybe I should give it an try someday before I am too decrepit to enjoy it….
Yes, that music was ironic and it is indeed true — noted some of the songs down, and where I was, exactly as they were running. I wish I had noted more.
I also have that tinge of prejudice about Provence. I feel like it hogs all of the South of France attention, along with the Côte d’Azur. Occitanie is much more authentic IMO, but I don’t want it to turn into Provence!
If you come to the south, I would suggest focusing more on Occitanie and Nouvelle Aquitaine, although some parts of PACA are fabulous. I really liked Hyères and La Ciotat, but they are coastal towns. I also liked the second city I visited on this trip. To be continued!
I Have yearned for a life in France. No luck, so I managed to live my own version of a French life in the US. (Still l wish I it has been in France.) But I did pretty well in the USA. It requires a mind set. (And I did live in London. )
Well, there are certainly plenty of Americans moving to France, especially retirees. I applaud some but others, I wonder if they know what they’re getting into. Do you have the opportunity to visit France? And I’m curious what you do to “live a version of a French life in the US.”
Even though I am a Francophile through and through, and am retired, I would never decide (sadly) to move to France. I couldn't bear the overwhelming beaurocracy of it. Thank God for my credit card points that I can transfer to Air France Flying Blue points for my flights.
I remember Orange as having the big Roman “stuff”, and nothing else - not even people.
I just came back from 2 weeks in Provence, traveling with a vegan and vegetarian, both Provence first-timers. The first week was anchored by my daughter’s bike climb of Mt Ventoux, and the second was near St Remy in a town called Molleges, which has lots of 70’s houses but almost no services. And despite the houses, hardly anyone out and about. Were they hiding?
This was my 7th Provence trip, and the heat almost killed us. Most of the places we visited have become more touristy and less like towns that real people would live in. Our main memory of Aix en Provence was how hot it was. We disliked the tourist tat in the “tour bus towns” of Bonnieux, Gordes and Rousillon. Lacoste used to have an atmospheric abandoned feel, but even it has been spruced up by the SCAD art school. The walkways are slippery and dangerous. The scenery is beautiful, but it seems sad that the only way to keep these beautiful hill towns alive is to fill them with shops selling tourist junk.
The highlights of the trip were Sault, one of the start towns for a Mt Ventoux climb, the Colorado hiking near Rustrel (like being in Arizona), Cavaillon - a real town under looming cliffs, Les Baux for the Carrieres de Lumieres show and the views (but not all the tourist junk), and Nimes. That city was a real revelation - history, Roman antiquities, gorgeous parks and water features, and the hustle and bustle of a real city. And oddly, while there were tons of ugly cigale souvenirs, I did not hear a single one during the whole trip.
Thank you, Cynthia, for this very detailed and revealing comment about your experiences in Provence. I found it most interesting, as you have been there many times and seem to have taken note of a change in atmosphere due to overtourism.
I can see the beauty in the Provençal landscape and villages, but it is a beauty not that different from what I find in my own region, Occitanie, and in some parts of Nouvelle Aquitaine, and certainly all up the mountainous eastern border of France, and in so many other places! My husband and I took a trip to the Vercors years back and were stunned by how gorgeous it was, but who hears much about the Vercors?
I think a lot of factors have come into play, but I’ll be writing a bit more about this trip and may include my thoughts in a future post.
It sounds like you were here during the May heat wave, so Provence was far from the only place to suffer. I was there the week before that “canicule,” and it was quite lovely, maximum temps 27/28 and cool in the mornings.
As for specific places you mention, I’m sure I would love Les Carrières de Lumière, but there is a similar attraction in Paris called L’Atelier de la Lumière, and I’ve had the occasion to go there quite a few times with our daughter who lives there. I love the concept.
It’s interesting you should mention Cavaillon because it was on my short list for this trip, but I decided to go to Orange instead. So perhaps next time. However I did go to another mid-sized Provençal town after Orange that truly charmed me — the story is to be continued!
I’ve visited Nîmes and agree it is a splendid city that people don’t hear that much about. It has a Provençal feel but administratively, it is in Occitanie, which is my region and one I feel deserves more attention — but not so much that it becomes like Provence!
I hope to go back next May, if not before. We have been to France about 25 times, and I've seen quite a bit of the country. As I get older, I find the pace of the big cities tiring, and prefer to spend time in smaller towns, with short day trips to other towns. But it is hard for many small towns to keep stores, restaurants and interesting attractions open every day. It becomes a real planning adventure to arrive on the one or two days of the week that the museum is open and there is someone to let you into the church. It is sad to visit towns that seem to have been deserted, despite their obvious charm. I'm looking forward to your next report.
And that is also why I'm fond of these towns from 20,000 to 70,000 inhabitants -- they have a small town feel (especially under 50,000) yet will always, at least I hope, have shops and stuff going on. I can never keep up with everything going on in Rodez.
We went to Orange a few years ago while we were staying in Avignon. We had planned for a full day there (we had heard it was a charming town with several points of interest) but left after about an hour or two. Very underwhelming.
Hi Kimberly and thank you for your comment. It’s interesting (and validating) to hear from other people who were not crazy about Orange. I have some theories about why it is the way it is, but need to do some research. I don’t think I’m quite done with Orange yet!
I'm very glad to find out about Orange through you Betty. If we're ever in that area we'll know how to plan a visit to see the arch, and theater wall, and do the immersive tour to appreciate how it was in Roman times which sounds like fun, but maybe pretty much skip the rest.
Yes, I think a good half day could well be sufficient. There is also an audio guide available for the theater but it looked like I would have had to sit baking in the sun to benefit from it, so I skipped that. There’s also a museum that I will be having a lot to say about — I’m not quite done with Orange!
Anyone spent at least a few days in Salon-de-Provence? When trying to come up with a place to visit for 5 days or so when leaving Aix-en-Provence after an excellent 2 weeks, I spoke with residents of Aix-en-Provence about Salon. Most said don't go there (keep in mind I'm a flaneur and wander aimlessly when I visit). Trains were full, so liked that there was a bus connection. Ended up going to Savoie with Bla-Bla-Car instead for a great 6 days in Aix-les-Baines. Should I have done Salon-de-Provence? Was I mislead just because some people feel it's not loaded with activities that I don't care about? I like sleepy small cities like Dole and Aix-les-Baines with few nighttime activities and few foreign tourists.
I definitely want to go to Aix-les-Bains, it looks fantastic. It’s significantly further away from where I live, so it’s one of those places that may wait until retirement, which is coming soon!
Could I contact you directly about it? Have you figured out how Substack DM works? If not, I can probably trace down your email in my subscribers’ list.
Well the theater is worth seeing. But music aside, I found the city quite charmless. I think it’s been neglected, not in a run-down way, but in a “not making improvements” way…but I’ll be writing more about that!
We had actually thought about moving there, but when we got there we quickly changed our minds. It just didn’t click.
Oh interesting. What drew you to it?
I can understand it not clicking; I found it quite charmless, music aside.
We started down the path of opening a shop franchise and that was where they proposed it. Glad we didn’t do it.
The only reason I can think of to visit Orange is to attend a performance in the theatre, and I'd probably do it from the safety of Avignon.
Well, I was somewhat interested in seeing the theater and arch but mainly figured there would be a charming town to explore. But even without the music, I’m not sure I would have been that charmed. I do think I have one more post in me about it.
I thought of you as I decided to not go into the fact that Orange used to be a principality!
Yes, better not to go into that. You might have to explain why its princes are now the royal family of the Netherlands.
I think I read that, but I don't remember why. So best left alone.
The theater’s festival is focused on classical music and opera, and thers is a retro pop music program the rest of the summer along with a short techno festival. Avignon as you know is theater, although I assume there are some musical events at some point during the summer. Our daughter played at Avignon a few years back but we didn't go. It's another mob scene.
Whatever bureaucrat came up with the idea of the English-language music blaring out everywhere should be forced to listen to it for hours on end. What a way to ruin a downtown.
Agreed! And I do know it was a city decision, as opposed to an idea by the merchants’ association, because I asked about it at my hotel. Very odd and annoying.
Public (mall) music, yuck! Reminds me of another surreal experience, namely Christmas time 1992-3 in West (Muslim) Beirut, hearing Christmas music like "Jingle Bells" all over the downtown.
The Iranians have a term for this, gharb-zadeh or "west-struck" (like "dumbstruck"), but that does not explain Orange or other western cities...
Thank you for your comment. Yes, it was a very weird disconnect, something like yours in Beirut. I can’t imagine the city officials being “Anglo-struck” but it would have appeared that way.
Oh, the horror. I would have left early, too. And it's too bad, because the town has so much promise!
It was horrifying, and just plain weird. You have to wonder how that was allowed to be set up.
I was in Dole over Christmas and they piped Christmas music and some DJ talking over loudspeakers through their small downtown. Lovely city (I recommend a visit); terrible decision.
Yes but I’m afraid Christmas music has become pretty ubiquitous in France. Maybe it’s not in all cities, but certainly in a lot of shops and supermarkets. The DJ sounds especally obnoxious — I don’t think that’s very frequent.
I was in Dole in April for a few days. Found it a lovely small city. Very French, no evidence of a homeless problem. The market place was a good regional one. And, there was not music on the streets.
Dole is definitely on my list! I’ve scoped it out a bit online. Now I just need to get retired to make those more faraway (from me) destinations more reachable. Good to know you enjoyed it.
I was in Aix-les-Baines in April for a week. Lovely place. Very clean, very interesting, lots to see, lots of nature in town and surrounding the town. Snow capped Alps in the not too far distance. The largest natural lake in all of France, and not one piece of litter in the lake by the heavily used docks!!! I highly recommend. AND, speakers everywhere in the "new" commercial area. Same reason as in Orange.
Boo hoo. I find even the music pumped out into the locker room here in Angers to be unpleasant. In Dole, at least the music in the locker rooms was calming.
Will read when I get home from Paris.
Obvously Paris is the priority! I hope you’re having a great time.
Three great days. I am a bit shattered from the walking and navigating the metro system.
I'm curious, Lucy, what was shattering for you?
In Ireland when we say 'shattering' it means extremely tired. We covered long distances walking in the city over the three days. And it was very busy with tourists.
I’m familiar with this meaning from my British friends (sorry but I don’t have any Irish friends IRL) but now realize, thinking about the comment from @Bobby Frank that in American English, it has a stronger, emotional meaning, maybe more like “shook me to the core”?
Okay 👌 I think it can mean that too in Irish parlance. I am resting at home in Kerry now after all my walking in Paris. A great trip overall 👌 ☺
Yes, three days sounds pretty intense. Do you wear good walking shoes? I used to wear slightly dressier shoes in big cities -- not heels or anything, but not sports shoes -- and would find that my feet got so tired I would be exhausted by 5pm. Now I wear proper Nike (or other brand) walking shoes and find it makes all the difference. Too bad if they're not that attractive, so many people are shod like that now, including Parisians!
I haven't returned to Orange in years. Well, guess I'll take it off the list of "Must-Return-To-Cities" right now!
Wondering what you think about the "Arc de Triomphe" in Montpellier and la Promenade du Peyrou around it? It's quite majestic.
Last but not least: les cigales. Like you I find the big ones a bit creepy. I, for one, am glad they hide in the daytime while delivering the "concerts" so typical of Provence.
Yes, unless you really want to see the Theater, I think you can take a pass. I much preferred the next city I went to…coming soon!
I hate to admit that I have never been to la Promenade du Peyrou! I actually don’t know Montpellier very well despite having been there several dozen times. I haven’t even been to the Musée Fabre! It was mainly a shopping destination when our daughters were younger, and we tended to just hang around the hyper-centre.
I like to get down to the Hérault (Mèze as you know, Pézenas, Sète, le lac de Salagou, even Lodève) but for a big city, I prefer to go to Toulouse or Paris.
We were just in Orange last month and did the immersive experience you described at the Orange Theatre- it was interesting but not necessarily something I need to do again (or at least often…).
Like you we didn’t find Orange captivating (although the intact theater wall is indeed spectacular) but we did go to Tarascon another day (to see the Souleiado Museum, as I loved the now defunct Pierre Deux brand here in the US and still love some of the other Indiennes fabric brands one can only find in France, like Olivades and Valdrome) and quite liked it, faded though it is- Tarascon was an unexpected find! And sadly we didn’t have time to explore its apparently impressive castle. Have you explored Tarascon (yet)?
I thought the immersive experience was fun and interesting for five extra euros. I’ve seen others, that I haven’t done, that were quite expensive and I’m not sure I’d go much further price-wise. There is also the audio guide for the theater, which maybe would have been a good choice, but people seemed to have to be sitting baking in the stands to take advantage of that, so I skipped it.
I’ve heard of Tarascon but have never been there, so thank you for the tip. I don’t live all that far from Provence, so do plan to go back. Interestingly, the Orange museum, which I’m saving for a second post, had a gallery about Orange’s own, apparently major, “Indiennes” factory, which I found quite fascinating.
Thank you for your comment!
Those cigales are ugly, but the one I found in Cassis a few years ago, made by a local, is great.
Oh I know, some of them are cute and I kind of like the single cicada (not cricket, I corrected my copy) that you see on a lot of houses down there. But too many of them remind me of that biblical plague…
Oh dear God, the music everywhere! I loved this:
I entered the cathedral to the tune of Mrs. Robinson; I guess nothing says Notre Dame like a song associated with an adulterous alcoholic.
I am definitely unfamiliar with Provence. I once spent two days in Cannes with a small group of Clarion University students, and that’s all. Being from northern France, I was always a little prejudiced against Provence, the region of France most cherished by tourists. Maybe I should give it an try someday before I am too decrepit to enjoy it….
Yes, that music was ironic and it is indeed true — noted some of the songs down, and where I was, exactly as they were running. I wish I had noted more.
I also have that tinge of prejudice about Provence. I feel like it hogs all of the South of France attention, along with the Côte d’Azur. Occitanie is much more authentic IMO, but I don’t want it to turn into Provence!
If you come to the south, I would suggest focusing more on Occitanie and Nouvelle Aquitaine, although some parts of PACA are fabulous. I really liked Hyères and La Ciotat, but they are coastal towns. I also liked the second city I visited on this trip. To be continued!
I Have yearned for a life in France. No luck, so I managed to live my own version of a French life in the US. (Still l wish I it has been in France.) But I did pretty well in the USA. It requires a mind set. (And I did live in London. )
ANd I have been to Paris! And I was dragged sobbing when I got on the plane to leave.No shame either!!!!!
Well, there are certainly plenty of Americans moving to France, especially retirees. I applaud some but others, I wonder if they know what they’re getting into. Do you have the opportunity to visit France? And I’m curious what you do to “live a version of a French life in the US.”
Even though I am a Francophile through and through, and am retired, I would never decide (sadly) to move to France. I couldn't bear the overwhelming beaurocracy of it. Thank God for my credit card points that I can transfer to Air France Flying Blue points for my flights.
It's definitely not the solution for everyone!
I remember Orange as having the big Roman “stuff”, and nothing else - not even people.
I just came back from 2 weeks in Provence, traveling with a vegan and vegetarian, both Provence first-timers. The first week was anchored by my daughter’s bike climb of Mt Ventoux, and the second was near St Remy in a town called Molleges, which has lots of 70’s houses but almost no services. And despite the houses, hardly anyone out and about. Were they hiding?
This was my 7th Provence trip, and the heat almost killed us. Most of the places we visited have become more touristy and less like towns that real people would live in. Our main memory of Aix en Provence was how hot it was. We disliked the tourist tat in the “tour bus towns” of Bonnieux, Gordes and Rousillon. Lacoste used to have an atmospheric abandoned feel, but even it has been spruced up by the SCAD art school. The walkways are slippery and dangerous. The scenery is beautiful, but it seems sad that the only way to keep these beautiful hill towns alive is to fill them with shops selling tourist junk.
The highlights of the trip were Sault, one of the start towns for a Mt Ventoux climb, the Colorado hiking near Rustrel (like being in Arizona), Cavaillon - a real town under looming cliffs, Les Baux for the Carrieres de Lumieres show and the views (but not all the tourist junk), and Nimes. That city was a real revelation - history, Roman antiquities, gorgeous parks and water features, and the hustle and bustle of a real city. And oddly, while there were tons of ugly cigale souvenirs, I did not hear a single one during the whole trip.
Thank you, Cynthia, for this very detailed and revealing comment about your experiences in Provence. I found it most interesting, as you have been there many times and seem to have taken note of a change in atmosphere due to overtourism.
I can see the beauty in the Provençal landscape and villages, but it is a beauty not that different from what I find in my own region, Occitanie, and in some parts of Nouvelle Aquitaine, and certainly all up the mountainous eastern border of France, and in so many other places! My husband and I took a trip to the Vercors years back and were stunned by how gorgeous it was, but who hears much about the Vercors?
I think a lot of factors have come into play, but I’ll be writing a bit more about this trip and may include my thoughts in a future post.
It sounds like you were here during the May heat wave, so Provence was far from the only place to suffer. I was there the week before that “canicule,” and it was quite lovely, maximum temps 27/28 and cool in the mornings.
As for specific places you mention, I’m sure I would love Les Carrières de Lumière, but there is a similar attraction in Paris called L’Atelier de la Lumière, and I’ve had the occasion to go there quite a few times with our daughter who lives there. I love the concept.
It’s interesting you should mention Cavaillon because it was on my short list for this trip, but I decided to go to Orange instead. So perhaps next time. However I did go to another mid-sized Provençal town after Orange that truly charmed me — the story is to be continued!
I’ve visited Nîmes and agree it is a splendid city that people don’t hear that much about. It has a Provençal feel but administratively, it is in Occitanie, which is my region and one I feel deserves more attention — but not so much that it becomes like Provence!
Are you planning another trip to France soon?
I hope to go back next May, if not before. We have been to France about 25 times, and I've seen quite a bit of the country. As I get older, I find the pace of the big cities tiring, and prefer to spend time in smaller towns, with short day trips to other towns. But it is hard for many small towns to keep stores, restaurants and interesting attractions open every day. It becomes a real planning adventure to arrive on the one or two days of the week that the museum is open and there is someone to let you into the church. It is sad to visit towns that seem to have been deserted, despite their obvious charm. I'm looking forward to your next report.
That's a lot of travels to France!
And that is also why I'm fond of these towns from 20,000 to 70,000 inhabitants -- they have a small town feel (especially under 50,000) yet will always, at least I hope, have shops and stuff going on. I can never keep up with everything going on in Rodez.
Thank you for your comments!
We went to Orange a few years ago while we were staying in Avignon. We had planned for a full day there (we had heard it was a charming town with several points of interest) but left after about an hour or two. Very underwhelming.
Hi Kimberly and thank you for your comment. It’s interesting (and validating) to hear from other people who were not crazy about Orange. I have some theories about why it is the way it is, but need to do some research. I don’t think I’m quite done with Orange yet!
I'm very glad to find out about Orange through you Betty. If we're ever in that area we'll know how to plan a visit to see the arch, and theater wall, and do the immersive tour to appreciate how it was in Roman times which sounds like fun, but maybe pretty much skip the rest.
Yes, I think a good half day could well be sufficient. There is also an audio guide available for the theater but it looked like I would have had to sit baking in the sun to benefit from it, so I skipped that. There’s also a museum that I will be having a lot to say about — I’m not quite done with Orange!
Anyone spent at least a few days in Salon-de-Provence? When trying to come up with a place to visit for 5 days or so when leaving Aix-en-Provence after an excellent 2 weeks, I spoke with residents of Aix-en-Provence about Salon. Most said don't go there (keep in mind I'm a flaneur and wander aimlessly when I visit). Trains were full, so liked that there was a bus connection. Ended up going to Savoie with Bla-Bla-Car instead for a great 6 days in Aix-les-Baines. Should I have done Salon-de-Provence? Was I mislead just because some people feel it's not loaded with activities that I don't care about? I like sleepy small cities like Dole and Aix-les-Baines with few nighttime activities and few foreign tourists.
I definitely want to go to Aix-les-Bains, it looks fantastic. It’s significantly further away from where I live, so it’s one of those places that may wait until retirement, which is coming soon!
Could I contact you directly about it? Have you figured out how Substack DM works? If not, I can probably trace down your email in my subscribers’ list.
Thank you for writing about Orange this city has been on my wish list for ages 😱
Well the theater is worth seeing. But music aside, I found the city quite charmless. I think it’s been neglected, not in a run-down way, but in a “not making improvements” way…but I’ll be writing more about that!
Probably why a RN Maire as been elected in Orange 🥲
I have taken a quick look into the successive mayors...