By 2024-08-19T11:00:00+01:00 FRANCE: A fleet of eight diesel-battery bi-mode trains, renovated stations, better reliability and easier ticketing have been promised under a modernisation programme agreed for the 1 000 mm gauge Nice – Digne line operated by Chemins de Fer de Provence Funding worth a total of €130m provided by the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region will pay for the improvements Unveiled at an event at Plan-du-Var La Vésubie near Levens the programme builds on an earlier package of enhancements that included the provision of 20 min interval services in the morning and evening peak periods at the southern end of the route generating a 30% traffic increase in less than 12 months the future air-conditioned rolling stock fleet will provide a 77% reduction in carbon emissions The trains will be maintained at a €42m depot and workshop to be built at Lingostière with completion due in late 2026 A new information and ticketing system will be put in place in stages This will include installation of automated vending machines at selected stations and fitting of ticket validators in the trains The modernisation programme also includes renovation of stations at Puget-Théniers Other infrastructure work covers reconstruction of a section of the 2 km Moriez tunnel where a 25 m section about 400 m from the western portal collapsed in February 2019 The job is due to be completed at the end of 2025 paving the way for through rail services from Nice to Digne-les-Bains to be reinstated from early 2026 The 151 km route has 25 tunnels with a combined length of 11 km and two covered cuttings The line also features 102 masonry or metal bridges and numerous other structures Services carry around 500 000 passengers a year FRANCE: Stadler has signed a contract to supply eight customised diesel-battery hybrid multiple-units for the narrow gauge Nice – Digne line operated by Chemins de Fer de Provence FRANCE: Funding has been finalised for the first phase of the Ligne Nouvelle Provence d’Azur project to upgrade the busy Marseille - Nice corridor to support a 66% increase in the number of daily services The planned launch of Services Express Régionaux Métropolitains operations around Marseille Site powered by Webvision Cloud To enjoy the pure air and the benefits of the mountains go to one of the region’s spas or thermal baths at Montgenèvre treat yourself to some downtime in the fitness room or steam room You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience This lumbering giant carries heaps of passengers while towing bikes securely behind A comprehensive trail map of southern France would look as spaghetti-like as a metro map of Manhattan with more area covered in colorful lines than not Like its neighboring southern European nations nearly every hillside that can support a trail does Winter temperatures in the Mediterranean climate are mild and there are far more sunny days to enjoy than wet ones Nested in the foothills of the French Alps, Evo Bike Park reaps the benefits of a seaside climate combined with steep slopes The year-round park is open Saturday through Monday with weekday shreds available for reservations of nine or more riders Uplifts are handled by a pair of giant military-style trucks that shuttle riders to the top while enjoying open views of the nearby countryside and chats with bench buddies Photo: TDG-Photography This shot is at the top of all of the trails Shuttle drivers take care of the loading and unloading process There is a series of jumps at the bottom of the trails where you can practice your shapes while waiting for the next lift Each shuttle ride lasts roughly 12 minutes so you won’t be sessioning long before getting back to the gravity-fed lumps riders can descend 10-15 times throughout the day making Evo a fantastic spot for honing all manner of gravity skills The rows of planted pine that line much of Evo Bike Park make the forest feel fairly open The blue trails at Evo are flowy and fast, with large berms and smooth tread. There are some steeper sections, but the beginner and novice riders on the shuttle reported pure fun and excitement. I had fun riding Dirty Wave into its two blue lines toward the bottom There are plenty of ways to make the descent as challenging or as chill as you prefer both by doubling the smaller jumps or airing the berms There are not many smooth flow tracks where I live and I took advantage of the chance to practice riding the tall berms faster each lap I hit the tracks with a handful of professional enduro and downhill racers who were happy to demonstrate how to look cool in the air The red trail that we rode the most is called Slate Line It felt super steep until I rode the black line next to it taking a couple of shorter plunges downhill before it meets the spine of the hillside but at a pitch you could stop on if you had to in most sections The lower switchbacks and chutes are rocky and natural This was my personal favorite track in the park The adjacent red track, titled Whip It all built for a particular speed and timing This is a good track to ride easy once or twice to get an idea of what you want to hit and how fast you want to hit it If you can follow a local down it for your first full speed run For folks who prefer traction over hang time there are some good spots to watch other people risk their bones alongside and between the jumps as there were not heaps of folks keen to huck that hard Some of the black designated trails were being worked on when I visited Evo, but I did get to ride the lower part of Original Gangster, and the length of Chainsaw The open chunk of Original Gangster was a steeper and more natural version of the blue trail that flows into it it is not particularly more difficult to ride than any of the blue trails with narrow catch berms at the bottom that you need to look through but this one is a bit past my personal fun zone For folks training or practicing for true DH racing This sweet pump-track in the trees offers a nice place to warm up The lower jump line has some overhead doubles and flip ramps with an airbag for riders who like to keep their tires away from the dirt and three black tracks should satisfy most riders’ skill levels and desires and they had a great time on the blue flow lines while pro riders who showed up found all of the challenges they could ask for There is a pair of sweet park pups to vacuum any burger scraps left from lunch Enter your email for the top stories in mountain biking plus product picks and deals delivered to your inbox each week a two-and-a-half-year-old boy from a large family was staying with his grandparents for two weeks in the hamlet of Le Haut Vernet (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) July 8 as his family packed the car for an outing It is thought that Emile wandered off by himself as he was reportedly seen in the hamlet before his disappearance The village is so small that it was not unusual to see children out and about so a few people who reportedly saw him did not think to raise the alarm despite village-wide searches with dogs and infrared helicopters and no nationwide kidnapping alert has been issued Read more: Boy, 2, still missing in French Alps nearly three days on The prosecutor of nearby Digne-les-Bains this week announced it had opened a new judicial inquiry into the case Two judges from Aix-en-Provence are now investigating with inquiries centred on data and evidence collected from the scene and search area Searches were stopped four days after the disappearance is closed to any non-residents until July 31 at midnight in a bid to control the comings and goings of outsiders Read more: Boy, 2, missing in French Alps: Outsiders banned from search site One resident told FranceInfo: “Now and there is ‘us’: we are split in two.” Others said they no longer want to talk to journalists and want the family to be left in peace said: “I have encouraged everyone to go back to normal life…we are coming out the other side as well as could be expected One resident, Jeanne, who told FranceInfo she was a long-time friend of Emile’s family described the boy as “dynamic” and “very cute” so he wants to do the same as they do…[but] I’m sorry She added the atmosphere in the village is starting to “go back to normal” and “calm down” who said she knew the family “a little bit” and called the atmosphere “oppressive” and “tense” She said: “Little secrets lead to bigger ones Maybe some people know something but they’re not saying anything?” Theories have spread over what happened to Emile Some have reported rumours of a car accident although investigators have not said whether they are following any particular lead Mr Balique said that he believes that “there was intervention from an adult”. He told the regional newspaper La Dépêche du Midi: “It was maybe a car driving through too quickly “I am sure that the body is not in the commune Read more: ‘Final sweep’ for boy, 2, missing in French Alps since Saturday The village is perhaps also in shock after an unfortunate series of events in recent years was killed by a man with mental health issues the Germanwings Airbus A320 crashed in the mountains helped authorities by driving family members to and from the crash site to help them make sense of the disaster the airline gifted him and his family tickets for a France-Germany football match at the Stade de France in Paris This would be the match that was affected by the terrorist attacks of November 2015 He asked: “Planes fall out of the sky here and now children disappear; what are people going to say about us?” Boy, 2, missing in French Alps: Chances of finding him alive narrow The group compared two popular EV models and considered six specialist EV offers The prefectural ban is set to remain in place until at least December 31 The geographical spread of Canadian nationals follows a similar pattern to Americans This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker The iconic flower of Provence, lavender, is celebrated every year in the region. Discover a selection of key dates to celebrate the lavender harvest and explore, during these traditional events, tourist destinations and splendid landscapes. Make a note of these dates in your diary today! Situated between 700 meters and 900 meters in altitude on the foothills of Mont Ventoux, the region of Sault offers exceptional climatic conditions for growing lavender. The purple plant has contributed to the prosperity of the area and continues to sustain passionate and dedicated producers. It has also become a tourist attraction for Sault and the neighboring villages. Every year on August 15, Sault hosts one of the world’s largest lavender festivals! A grand Provençal parade is organized, featuring the participation of folk groups in traditional costumes, Provençal music bands, and tambourine players (musicians who play a local drum). Wagons and floats filled with lavender sprigs and specially decorated, old tractors, and vintage bicycles parade through the streets. The Sault Lavender Festival hosts the French Lavender Cutting Championship with seasoned professionals competing. You can also participate in the amateur lavender cutting competition. Une publication partagée par 🄵🄴🅃🄴 🄳🄴 🄻🄰 🄻🄰🅅🄰🄽🄳🄴 🅂🄰🅄🄻🅃 (@fetedelalavande) Une publication partagée par Ludovic D'Andrea (@pixelludo) The Valensole plateau, located between the Durance Valley and the Verdon Gorges, is renowned for its magnificent landscapes and endless lavender fields. A major lavender production area in Haute-Provence, Valensole hosts one of the most beautiful and largest lavender festivals each year to celebrate the beginning of the harvest. Every year, producers and residents of Valensole gather on the 3rd Sunday in July for festivities that honor lavender. Numerous activities are organized throughout the day. You can explore the blooming lavender fields before the harvest, interact with local producers, learn about the distillation process using a 19th-century still, stroll through the producer’s market stalls, enjoy folkloric and musical performances, and partake in various entertainments. The Lavender Corso of Digne-les-Bains has become a major popular event over the decades and is an important date on the cultural agenda of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. We also invite you to discover the Provençal tradition of the Corso Fleuri through various events throughout France. Une publication partagée par Digne-Les-Bains Haute-Provence (@dignelesbains_hauteprovence) Une publication partagée par Isle sur la Sorgue Tourisme (@islesurlasorguetourisme) a former fortified city in Comtat Venaissin once prospered through the production of madder which yielded a highly sought-after red dye Lavender has grown in the region since the early 21st century and now has its own festival Lavandissima is an opportunity to discover a thriving lavender production in a tourist-friendly territory just a few kilometers from Avignon Many activities await you throughout the day: guided tours about lavender and heritage Would you like to take advantage of your stay in Provence to discover lavender Discover our resources and our thematic files to discover the secrets of this mauve flower with its bewitching fragrance and sunny beauty: the Alps offer a privileged setting for inspired actors We’re taking you off to discover some mythical filming spots in the Alps alien invasions and even a police investigation… the mountains and villages of the Alps attract the filmmakers who adore these natural settings and offer us beautiful ideas for films by immersing yourself in the screenplay of Les Courriers de la Mort a telefilm by Philomène Esposito based on the book by Pierre Magnan Head for Digne-les-Bains and Barles in the Alpes de Haute Provence A walk around the site and you will be able to see the famous letterbox near the cemetery The geological formation of the Clue de Barles (a narrow gorge carved by torrents) appears as an echo of the tension of the story After the murder of rich Véronique Melliflore in Digne-les-Bains Juge Chabrand and retired Commissaire Laviolette set off in search of the truth to try and solve this mystery Une publication partagée par AL_PICS (@al_pics36) Une publication partagée par Belle et Sébastien Fan (@belleetsebastien.fansite) In Provence, some towns hold a floral parade called the “Corso Fleuri”, where decorated floats parade through the streets. Discover these very popular local festivals, which combine tradition and conviviality! In the south of France, noble families used to drive their carriages down the main avenue on Sundays. Originating in the 17th century, this tradition disappeared during the Revolution. The custom was revived at the beginning of the 20th century for carnival parades. After WWI, the people of Bormes-les-Mimosas decided to honour the mimosa that blossomed in the surrounding hills at the end of winter. The carts are decorated with flowers and drive through the village, offering a festive and convivial moment for the whole population. The Corso Fleuri is held every year at the end of February and attracts large numbers of visitors. The floats are decorated with an average of 10,000 to 15,000 flowers. There’s plenty to see and do on the Saturday, with a craft market and entertainment. Spectators can watch the parade on Sunday, then take part in a flower battle and leave with a bouquet as a souvenir. Une publication partagée par Corso Fleuri Bormes (@corsobormes) Since 1929, Digne-les-Bains has celebrated the end of the lavender harvest, the emblematic flower of Haute-Provence and a major source of income for local growers. The event made a comeback in the aftermath of the Second World War, and has now been running for several decades. The festivities take place over several days at the end of July and beginning of August. Float parades, fireworks, funfairs, parades, dances and concerts take place throughout the year. Access is free for all. Every year, the event attracts tens of thousands of visitors who come to watch the daytime and night-time parades, the two fireworks displays, the funfair and the international parade. On the first evening, the parade opens with music, followed by fireworks and a grand ball in the Place Général de Gaulle. Saturday is devoted to the grand parade of folk groups from all over the world (Sweden, France, Russia). The Lavender Corso is one of the highlights of Digne-les-Bains’ cultural and tourist calendar. Lavender has been grown for centuries in the Enclave des Papes region, alongside vineyards and orchards in the former Comtat Venaissin. The town of Valréas also celebrates this emblematic flower with several days of festivities. The Valréas Lavender Corso features several parades of floral floats, concerts, a fair, an antique market and a funfair. This event takes place on the first weekend in August, and is an annual treat for locals and tourists alike. Contact the Valréas Festival Committee for details of the programme for next year’s event. Une publication partagée par Yani Fuki (@yanitakostova) Voir cette publication sur Instagram  Une publication partagée par Office De Tourisme (@cavalairetourisme) The town of Cavalaire-sur-Mer has also adopted the tradition of the corso, with a parade of illuminated floats. In February, spectators can take part in the various events organised throughout the weekend. The evening parade is the high point of the Corso des Lumières, with several illuminated floats passing through the streets and performances by street artists, strolling to lively rhythms. This carnival takes place in a friendly, family atmosphere, with parades, music and concerts. Contact the Cavalaire-sur-Mer tourist office for details of the programme for the next edition. Known the world over, the Nice Carnival is one of the most famous in Europe. Every year in February, a huge carnival parade is held. Delighted spectators can watch the parade of floats, marvel at the entertainment and dances, and enjoy watching the big-headed characters evolve. The carnival parade offers a festive and convivial interlude, immersing you in an imaginary and magical world. In the evening, from 8.30pm onwards, the floats light up for a parade of visual extravaganzas. You can also take part in the flower battles, where characters on floats decorated with flowers throw a shower of flowers at the spectators. You can find all the information and the programme for the next edition on the official Nice Carnival website: https://www.nicecarnaval.com/. Une publication partagée par Explore Nice Côte d'Azur (@explorenicecotedazur) All the months of the year are ideal for getting together again in the South of France They are colourful and filled with flavours and scents For Epiphany following tradition in the South we don’t share almond pie but instead the King’s brioche to name the lucky person of the day the beginning of the year is synonymous with the mimosa harvest let’s head for Mimosalia in Bormes-les-Mimosas A weekend where keen gardeners who want to make their garden their nature bubble the Outdoor Mix Winter Festival is back and promises a vitamin-packed cocktail of differoutdoor sports and free concerts for fun in the snow A great opportunity to enjoy the sea-urchins fished in the calanques of the Côte Bleue It perfumes and gives colour to the landscapes of the Var floats covered in yellow flowers and fronds parade in the streets during the Corso Fleuri while in Menton another yellow treasure is in the limelight La Fête du Citron (lemon festival) This event which is the only one of its kind in the world uses tons of citrus fruit for monumental designs The carnival corsos continue for the two weeks of festivities in the Carnaval de Nice and the colourfully costumed town hums to the rhythm of the shows each first weekend in March announces the Fête des Violettes Which means the end of the season for the producers and the arrival of spring The village is clothed in gorgeous colours and flowers a photo exhibition reminds us of pretty local tradition not forgetting guided tours on the themes of violets and the emblematic village buildings A Provencal market and a traditional meal will provide our taste buds with some delicious sweets and indulgences you can also make the most of the last descents Hop on your skis and head for the sunny runs of the South the Grand Prix de France Historique is back again in Le Castellet Pilots congregate behind the wheels of Formula 1s from the 50s tearing at top speed around the Circuit Paul Ricard An event which still gives its spectators a thrill For those who prefer antiques to racing cars the Foire Internationale Art & You awaits you in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue where updated vintage rubs shoulders with contemporary art and design the official selection and the stars walking up its steps make the headlines The Festival de Cannes lights up the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès and the whole town The prize distribution announces a plethora of artists who have come to pose on the red carpet And if you can’t wait for an autograph the Outdoor Spring Festival promises some great moments in Embrun Extreme sports and concerts in the Hautes-Alpes to set your hearts on fire the Valensole plateau is clothed in shades of violet-blue Lavender starts blooming in the middle of June and perfumes the roads with its woody Take a drive along the Routes de la Lavande to meet keen cultivators who grow and process the blue gold of Provence the myriad of fields of sunflowers takes on a lovely yellow-ochre colour These stretches of sun-kissed sunflowers in full bloom announce a rich vegetable oil the Festival d’Art Lyrique in Aix-en-Provence echoes on the walls of the town they offer lots of highly photogenic discoveries the Festival d’Avignon continues to give room to the performing arts with an even more surprising programme the biggest festival in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence It’s an outdoor festival to celebrate the delightfully scented plant which is part of the region’s economy fresh local products from the merchants dressed in period costume and who glide from one bank to the other on the traditional little “Nègo Chin” boats The harvest is starting in the South of France and the clusters of sun-packed red and green grapes are being picked the Vendanges Étoilées devote three days to gourmet food the art of the table and AOC wines in a good atmosphere the Voiles de Saint-Tropez are heading out to sea often hundred-year old boats to the ultra-modern ones which are among the most beautiful in the world here again it’s a passion shared in a good atmosphere on land and at sea the emblem of Collobrières is once again in the limelight for the Fête de la Châtaigne Producers and artisans introduce the chestnut in all its forms – grilled pureed or iced – thanks to their work all year round 300 creators compete and present their world during the Festival de la Mode The truffle is back on the market stalls and at truffle producers this is a great opportunity to indulge yourself and embellish your dishes There are many much sought-after regional truffle markets that are an invitation to enjoy it we meet the manadiers at the Festival Abrivado des Plages in Saintes-Marie-de-la-Mer with lovely demonstrations of their magnificent bulls and Camargue horses Provencal Christmas markets have people of all ages dreaming We recommend the  foires aux santons in Marseille and Aubagne the town is lit up and promises a light-filled trip to the harbour where the yachts twinkle magically if you’re patient you might be able to watch their courtship ritual to find female companion you’re sure to find a sunny resort under 3 hours away for a day’s skiing in the Southern French Alps feet in the snow and a view over the Mediterranean You’ll find all the best on powder snow Chabanon-Selonnet, one of our favourite resorts in the Southern French Alps for a day’s skiing is around fifty kilometres from Digne-Les-Bains in the Blanche Serre-Ponçon valley Ranging in altitude between 1550 and 2000 metres the 40 kilometres of runs are right there waiting for you: In the middle of a huge forest of fir trees those of you who do Nordic or Alpine skiing snowshoeing or tobogganing or even snowboarding will have a ball a sport which is somewhere between tobogganing and skiing end your day with a skijoring session where the horse is your best friend At just 1½ hours from Cannes, Fréjus, Draguignan, Grasse and even Nice, the resort of Gréolières-les-Neiges is the closest to the coast for a day’s skiing in the Southern French Alps its landscapes with their sea view and a unique 360° panorama of the whole of the Côte d’Azur from the Monts de l’Estérel to Italy and even Corsica when the sky is clear The resort’s 1,000 ha are spread over the slopes of the Massif du Cheiron on 25 runs for all levels: ideal for a quiet morning just enough to learn or get back on the job before tackling the black run Make the most of the second half of the day to set off on a horse-drawn safari to the close by Réserve des Monts d’Azur You’ll see bison and Przewalski horses in the middle of nature and there are many other animals to enchant the whole family The Dévoluy is a very big ski area with two resorts 53 runs for all levels and two itineraries with height differences of 1000 metres provide fun for both beginners and confirmed skiers stop off at the snowpark to see the succession of figures that the confirmed freestylers do Try your hand at a few moguls on this 2-hectare area at an altitude of 2,000 metres And because skiing goes well with a well-being break spa and treatment area to finish your day on a beautiful note Une publication partagée par ❄️ Le Dévoluy ⛷❄️ (@ledevoluy) Above Barcelonnette, between 1,400 and 2,500 metres, welcome to the resort of Le Sauze well-known as the training area of the world champion Carole Merle This 62-km skiing area is made up of large boulevards moguls and runs in the woods where you can even watch birds… if you take a little break between two runs The day goes by really fast so get into it by testing the trendy activities: snowscoot freestyle… or stay traditional with telemark for those who know this very technical Alpine skiing style Added bonus: choose a day’s skiing during the school holidays and spend great evenings with the family on the runs at night for torchlight descents or fireworks At under 2½ hours by car from Marseille, the resort of Réallon looks down over Serre-Ponçon and gives an incredible view of the lake and the imposing Aiguilles de Chabrières Nestled between the lake and the Ecrins National Park this village-resort is also the training area for Laëtitia Roux who is a skier-climber who holds 15 world champion titles a natural tobogganing run is great for all ages It’s 4 kilometres long and you can try an amazing 40-minute descent in the daytime or at night the hairpin bends and avoid the moguls… or not choose a cross-country skiing outing to discover the area in a different way Discover the Parc national des Ecrins Une publication partagée par Reallon (@reallon_ski) Une publication partagée par Isola 2000 (@isola2000_officiel) Head for the border with Italy, between the Parc national du Mercantour rand the Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime, and the resort of Isola which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2022 this ski area with its view of the sea on clear days is highly appreciated by snowboarders plunge into the snowpark which bears the name of the bronze medallist at the Vancouver Olympic Games Back to the Mouflon run where some try boardercross while others prefer to walk with white wolves and try being real mushers Discover the Parc national du Mercantour Take the train from the Nice or Aix-en-Provence SNCF train station Aix-en-Provence and Manosque offers train+shuttle tickets at just €20 return per adult to reach some of the resorts of the Southern French Alps There are also navettes blanches every Saturday from Marseille airport and the Aix TGV station buses ensure links with the big resorts of the southern French Alps: the Val d’Allos With ZOU! head for the ski resorts of the southern French Alps  Une publication partagée par Patrick Lausen (@coolercamper) Walk with white wolves and try being real mushers Le Grand Art is the fictional diary of an “actress in a rut,” completed by Alexandra David-Neel in Tunis on 6 August 1902 By then the bestselling-author-to-be was already publicly known under the stage and pen name Alexandra Myrial she wrote to her husband that she was busy with the submission of her manuscript to a couple of cutting-edge Parisian publishers she gave up the project in order to devote herself to her writings about Asia Yet she bore her novel in mind for a long time since she planned to update her manuscript when she returned from Lhasa Alexandra David-Neel has been celebrated as a Western Buddhist icon who popularized the modern perception of Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism The author very rarely mentioned her own past life as an opera singer during the last decade of 19th century and never ever revealed her first book-length literary endeavor in which she said farewell to her musical career for good she virtually took on a new public persona as she started her long-lasting literary career Moreover she never really said goodbye to drama and theatricality as her later fiction and nonfiction books profusely show In her 1927 bestseller My Journey to Lhasa David-Neel narrates how on her way to Lhasa at the mercy of Po-pa “brigands” near Po yul in eastern Tibet she “found the plot of the drama to be played on that rustic stage: a “powerful tragedienne” transformed into a terrifying khandroma (mkha’ ’gro ma Taking advantage of the awe-inspiring scenery of the lower Tsangpo valley she created an “occult atmosphere” that petrified the Po-pa villagers with horror and made herself thrill In this highly dramatically written scene recalling the scene of the Walpurgis Night in the fifth act of Faust Gounod’s opera in which she had played the part of Marguerite so many times David-Neel’s acting proficiency literally saved her and her adopted son and the ironic performer himself is only a shadow this scene is important to her because it is intricately bound to the idea of illusion and to the quest of liberation David-Neel as a writer is the one who can give her readers access to the drama happening behind the scenes In her writings on Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism David-Neel used to stage herself in a variety of narrative fashions none of her books can be described as autobiographical accounts she told her friend Claire Charles-Géniaux that “nothing is more absurd than publishing one’s own private or if I told it under the guise of a novel I have sometimes imagined that it could be enlightening and useful as a model of strength and a result of a ceaseless concentration of thought.” In light of what we have seen even more so since David-Neel did not tell Charles-Géniaux anything about Le Grand Art.  David-Neel gives an important guideline for the reading of Le Grand Art written three decades before and obviously holds it as a defining feature of her attitude toward fiction in her writings without even mentioning her first literary effort David-Neel sums up the hard core of her understanding of Buddhism the way it pertains to her own vision of life as a modern European Buddhist: “One can live the life of a Westerner while being convinced of the illusory and transient nature of the self and watching as a calm and amused spectator actors playing on the theater stage of the world of appearances.” In her Secret Oral Teachings in Tibetan Buddhist Sects David-Neel describes this vision as the “transcendent insight” (lhag thong) leading to liberation Such a “conviction” is the core of David-Neel’s understanding of Buddhism David-Neel maintained that the world is an illusion She acknowledged the fact that there is no way out of the world’s “stage.” In doing so she reenacted a key idea of Western theatrics that has been best captured in a famous line of Shakespeare’s comedy As you like it: “all the world’s a stage.” Yet David-Neel gives this inherited idea a twist in emphasizing its links with the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism she shifts the Western idea of theatrical illusion into a Buddhist soteriological framework as she makes clear throughout her early writings including Le Grand Art that she believes that there is a way out of suffering This is the issue on which Le Grand Art sheds unsuspected light: even though Buddhism is not an explicit topic here and the main character the novel is deeply embedded in Buddhism as the latter provides the novel with a coherent philosophical background and shapes its narrative structure As such, Le Grand Art stands out as one of the very first European literary efforts to incorporate Buddhism into modern literature David-Neel was an eager and alert reader and made wide-ranging references to the literary culture of her time. Le Grand Art’s main achievement certainly resides in the Buddhification of the literary background of David-Neel (and her contemporaries) ranging from religious publications and philosophical works to fin de siècle novels The author’s use of drama and her vision of literature strikingly reflect her Buddhist convictions As David-Neel argues in other short pieces published in anarchistic and feminist venues in the same period the Buddha’s teachings based on the recognition of suffering are strikingly modern: “Any suffering is a disorder,” she writes in 1895 She will shortly translate the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism into the language of feminism as she senses that the Buddha’s insights straightforwardly pertain to the condition of women in particular In applying her understanding of Buddhism as a Western Buddhist pioneer David-Neel set out from her very first book-length work on an unprecedented example of a complex and deeply embedded cultural transfer where Buddhism meets European literary and theatrical cultures This feature is integral to the plot line of the narrative and is vital to the process of reading the book it is no spoiler to point out here that David-Neel’s fictional alter ego led astray on the “disenchanted trails of eternal cycles,” simultaneously explores self-reflexive writing in order to give a self-made—and woman-made—literary shape to her progressive “awakenings” along the path of existence this novel is a subversive act that definitely tells a compelling success story both about the impermanence of self and about self-fashioning and Buddhism intricately merge into a modern response to the idea of a liberation from the “human comedy.” At the time when David-Neel was known as an opera singer the life story of the Buddha was becoming a key topic of a large number of plays French icon Sarah Bernhardt nicknamed “la Divine” even performed such a “Buddhadrama” in Paris One of the most popular “Buddhadramas” at the time, Izéÿl providing the spectators with unprecedented insights into the teachings of Buddhism and creating a visual and dramatic imaginaire of the practice of Buddhism While David-Neel was certainly aware of this trend and definitely and successfully played parts in operas reflecting European perceptions of Asian religions her own contribution to the entangled history of Western theatrics and Buddhism does not lie in the performance of Buddhism on “real” stages David-Neel did some sort of performances with her lama “son” Aphur Yongden using Tibetan ritual paraphernalia during public talks on Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism Yet her personal and crucial contribution lies more precisely in the transposition of performances of Buddhism in her books With her—with the distinctive narrative voice and tone of her written work—literature became a privileged medium where the boundaries between fiction and nonfiction fade where the reader is silently and privately experiencing the entrances and exits of striking characters and the arising and disappearance of dramatic events while being provided access to the scenes through a rear entrance since here Buddhism is best staged as an inward drama leading to one’s own truth This makes clear why Le Grand Art is a so-far missing key to understanding the role of performing arts and literature in the advent of modern Buddhism The novel also highlights its author not only as a feminine icon of exploration and as a Buddhist pioneer but as a writer whose past as an actress contributed to fashion Buddhism as a spiritual performance suited to European yearnings This also makes clear why publishing Le Grand Art only a few days before her 150th birth anniversary (she was born on 24 October 1868) should be regarded as a respectful homage to this still astonishing and awe-inspiring femme de lettres Samuel Thévoz holds a PhD in literary studies from the University of Lausanne and has recently been awarded a Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation/ACLS research fellowship. His research falls into three main areas: the perception of Tibet in travel literature and Western academia; the rise of modern Buddhism in art and theater; the first travels of Tibetans to France and Europe. Learn more about his work here Maison Alexandra Davide-Neel: Samten DzongLe Grand Art (Le Tripode)The Assimilation of Yogic Religions through Pop Culture All Authors >> var _ctct_m = "e13686134fe4ed809d4f346e45779db5"; Be sure you have your GPS enabled and try again By Brecht Decaluwé in Digne-les-Bains France One of the four remaining Barloworld riders at the.. One of the four remaining Barloworld riders at the Tour de France has said he is confident the team will continue in cycling until at least 2009, following the news that title sponsor Barloworld a multi-national brand management company headquartered in South Africa will withdraw its sponsorship after the race The company's decision follows Spaniard Moisés Dueñas' failed doping test for EPO and subsequent revelations that the rider had banned substances in his hotel room "I'm convinced the team will find the best solution for us They will find a win-win solution for everybody," said Christopher Froome a Kenyan-born rider who now races under British nationality I think it's going to end up being a team that continues in the same way as it did before but I think the sponsorship until 2009 is still confirmed but I can understand the sponsor's point of view that they don't want to link themselves to doping in any way." Team-mate Gianpaolo Cheula said that he too understood the decision of sponsor Barloworld and expressed disappointment in Dueñas but the team is certainly clean; there is no doping organized by Barloworld," Cheula said because it's his fault the sponsor pulled out I hope that in the coming years the riders understand that doping in cycling is no longer possible." Froome was also angry with Dueñas for risking so much for personal success "It all actually goes back to one person in one event who was selfish enough to take away almost 45 people's jobs I don't know if he understood the consequences fully when he did it but it was a very selfish act on his part," Froome said Froome said he still couldn't understand how nobody in the team knew about Dueñas' EPO use "We've spoken to [Felix] Cardenas and [Paolo Longo] Borghini who both shared a room with him I find it incredible that he has been hiding it from everyone like that What I find even more amazing is that he thought that he could come to the Tour de France and get away with it You know that you're going to be tested in the Tour Froome added that Dueñas was well-liked within the team making the news of his failed test even harder to swallow "Moisés got along with everybody in the team and I actually really liked him," said Froome They see someone in the Barloworld kit and think that he might be doping It's terrible that people put you in the same boat "The best thing for me to do is not to see [Dueñas] or I may get assault charges against me," Froome said The team is still hoping for a stage win at the Tour and puts its trust in South African sprinter Robbie Hunter "I try what I can to get Robbie first over the line one day It feels like you're picking up bottles every 20 minutes when you're only with four riders." Froome said there were a few perks to having just four riders left "There's a lot of space in the bus and you don't need to wait in order to take a shower." is a great buckled flow of rock strata that rises in the south that was a sea bed," explains our guide pushing it up." Jean-Pierre knows this Haute Provence landscape intimately having spent four decades walking and climbing its peaks and ridges For much of the last 16 years he has been working on the restoration of ancient footpaths part of a unique art project led by one of the most popular British artists of the last 20 years "Geology and rock have been a big part of the inspiration," says Jean-Pierre He gestures to the right where a band of red cliffs rise from the gorge and work their way up the mountain side to a pass We had walked down from that pass earlier in the day spotting chamois clattering along the cliff paths "That red clay is a 35-million-year-old river bed forced upwards for about 1km and turned on its side Andy used that clay in his sculpture - the one here." but on a timescale almost beyond comprehension It's easy to see how such an area would attract an artist like Andy Goldsworthy whose reputation rests on a deep connection with wild places and the rhythms of nature His project began as a single commission in the local town of Digne-les-Bains even unique - a series of artworks in ruined buildings all connected by stunningly beautiful paths is woven together by 100 miles of footpaths Tonight my partner Sophie and I are staying in one of the ruins that Goldsworthy has rebuilt: the farmhouse of Vieil Esclangon is leaving us here: we've decided to see if the trail can be finished without a guide After he has said goodbye and disappeared down the footpath precious backpacker's beer and watch dusk moving up the mountainsides We are four miles from the nearest human habitation and there is not a single dot of electric light to be seen is a farmhouse abandoned in the early 20th century Inside the ancient stone building one wall is entirely plastered in red clay and on this Goldsworthy has made a sinuous high relief Opposite is a stone hearth where we soon have a fine log fire crackling (the two Goldsworthy refuges that provide overnight accommodation are equipped with simple beds a table and firewood - a third overnight refuge is due to open in 2010) It's a chilly evening so Sophie and I lay our sleeping bags out in front of the fire and sleep under the clay sculpture watching its curves glow red in the firelight morphed by moonlight into a stack of pale crescents above us and when I look outside I find that the moon has set leaving a nocturnal panorama of stars so brilliant that it casts shadows under the trees I go out and lie among the sleeping flowers gazing up at the vast stellar meadow above The idea for a trail linking Andy Goldsworthy works evolved from a number of visits the artist made to Haute Provence from 1995 onwards The local town of Digne is blessed with an inspirational museum director an art lover who suspected that the landscape around the town might strike a chord with Goldsworthy There was something else too: an historical echo in Pierre Gassendi a 17th-century inhabitant of the area who reputedly answered Descartes' maxim On his first trip Andy produced a series of ephemeral cairns in the dry bed of the river Bès By 1999 he had built the first of three egg-like "sentinels" and was thinking of a series of sculptures When I catch up with Goldsworthy after our trip he explains: 'What has evolved is a project that goes beyond art as an object to be looked at to something that is part of a landscape to be lived in.' The land he is working on is largely abandoned: a region emptied by economic desperation the inhabitants of one valley simply uprooted themselves and left for Mexico the Provençal language all but dead and human culture shattered Behind them were ghosts: evocative ruined chapels on high ridges the dried-up arteries of human communities slowly disappearing under the encroaching forests of beech and pine It was in this context that Andy Goldsworthy began his work but supported by Nadine at the Musée Gassendi and Digne's Geopark opposition melted away and the sculptures have become an accepted part of the local scene in the delicious clarity of a sunny morning enjoying the fact that we have the entire landscape to ourselves a few walkers have arrived and we move out heading away from the gorge across some high meadows Our next objective is a restored barn and sculpture at Col de l'Escuichière a spot reached after a steep walk up 1,400ft of forested mountainside much of the stone used in these remote spots was dropped in by helicopter The Col is one of the four unlocked refuges (the overnight refuges are locked with the key available at Musée Gassendi in Digne) Usually the sculpture is actually part of the structure modified in Goldsworthy's inimitable style there is an egg-shaped alcove buried within the back wall of the church; at the Col we had a series of white calcite lines in the dark stones the works are all the better for long lunchtime repose At the Chappelle I had lain in front of the alcove long enough for it to subtly shift and move out of the wall mysteriously hovering in front of the white stone behind Where things get really interesting is in the subtle interplay between Refuge d'Art and the footpaths that link them surrounded by groves of beech and field maple after the physical exertion of reaching the pass we emerge almost immediately on a hillside trail where massive panoramas of snow-capped peaks open up light and air after the cave-like seclusion At our feet the grass is filled with scented herbs butterflies and flowers - clumps of tall asphodels By early evening we arrive at our second camp: La Ferme Belon a fortified farmhouse that looks south across an idyllic valley to the pale massif of White Horse mountain cavernous room with a big stone fireplace and some wooden furniture a wooden staircase leading down into a sepulchrous basement and from the gloom emerges a series of white stone arches like being swiftly shunted from sunny meadows to a troll's cave below Sophie takes one look and bolts back to the sunshine the mayor of the nearby village of Draix appears and explains something about the farm and its sculpture Jean-Marie Beltrando had been wanting to restore Belon for some time when he heard about Andy Goldsworthy "This place is special for local people," he explains "It was a base for the Résistance during the second world war but one day the guard fell asleep and the German soldiers arrived All the people were taken away to camps in Germany." "What did you think when you first saw the sculpture?" but now we really appreciate what Andy did." At night there are only the lights of Draix pass the farmhouse and its rather vicious-looking sheep dogs This 5,000ft pass lies under the looming massif of White Horse mountain and is carpeted in smaller flowers: purple orchids A couple of hours later we have dropped down to Clue de la Peine a savage little geological squeeze that takes us out into gentler territory and eventually our last Goldsworthy edifice Jean-Pierre arrives to pick us up and we head back to Digne and our hotel it is the perfect place to finish the walk - especially since Georges-Eric has built a small we ease our aching muscles in a haze of lavender-scented steam Already I'm feeling a pang of regret at leaving the rarified world of mountains and art Jean-Pierre reminds me that autumn is a good time to visit and then 2010 will see further additions to the Goldsworthy collection Things will certainly change and each visitor will find a slightly different place: the flowers fade and even the rocks take another imperceptible step on their journey a feeling with which Andy Goldsworthy has become familiar over the last 16 years always reinspired and reinvigorated by the scenery home to both Goldsworthy's renowned River of Earth sculpture and a whole gallery devoted to his art I ask Nadine Gomez when the project will be finished "Artists like to be in the process," she says it is very sad." She points at the map of Haute Provence and starts counting the Goldsworthy sculptures - those completed and those planned "So long as I can walk," he says "and the people in Digne are still involved Jet2.com flies from Leeds-Bradford and Manchester to Nice daily, from £43.98 rtn inc taxes. Nearest rail connections: Grenoble or Aix-en-Provence, then coach to Digne-les-Bains (raileurope.co.uk). For the scenic train from Nice to Digne see trainprovence.com It is possible to visit some of the sculptures by road, but walking is by far the best option. Some paths are clearly marked, others harder to follow. The Digne Tourist Office is planning a map for the 2010 season, but for the moment, the best means of visiting is to go with a guide. Jean-Pierre Brovelli (00 33 0492 353 738, etoile-rando.com) offers five nights with all food accommodation (one night in a Refuge d'Art and the rest in local auberges or gîtes) and transfers from Digne for €470pp (min four persons Hôtel Villa Gaia (+4 92 31 21 60, hotelvillagaia.fr) Tourist information: +492 315 729, alpes-haute-provence.com Musée Gassendi (for key to the locked refuges): musee-gassendi.org Digne Geological Reserve: resgeol04.org Refuges D'Art by Andy Goldsworthy (Fage Editions, €35, fage-editions.c.la) Log in for full access to stabroeknews.com Only one active session is allowed per subscriber (Reuters) – Chris Froome emerged unscathed from a treacherous 17th stage of the Tour de France yesterday retaining his lead while Alberto Contador lost a lot of ground and Tejay van Garderen abandoned the race who was third overall at the start of the 161-km trek from Digne les Bains pulled out because of sickness with the day’s laurels going to German Simon Geschke after a brave solo raid “It’s the most beautiful day of my life as a professional rider Spaniard Contador’s hopes of achieving a rare Giro d’Italia/Tour double suffered another major knock when he lost touch with the group of top guns after crashing in the dangerous descent from the col d’Allos The Tinkoff-Saxo rider lost over two minutes on Froome and Colombian Nairo Quintana who finished together after the final ascent to Pra Loup a 6.2-km climb at an average gradient of 6.5 percent Froome summed up the stage by saying: “It was a crazy day.” who attacked him several times in the climbs by three minutes and 10 seconds and his Movistar team mate Alejandro Valverde of Spain by 4:09 Contador is now fifth overall 6:40 off the pace six seconds behind Froome’s compatriot and team mate Geraint Thomas Frenchman Bernard Thevenet snatched the yellow jersey from the great Eddy Merckx in a stage finishing in Pra Loup but Froome was not to be overthrown yesterday The Briton showed fine descending skills and his usual power in the climbs to stay in control on another searing hot day on the Tour Peter Sagan was again in the day’s breakaway as part of a group of 28 that also featured France’s Thibaut Pinot and American Andrew Talansky Van Garderen dropped out of the main pack early on suffering from a headache Shortly after making contact with the peloton again he stepped off his bike and abandoned the race about 73-km from the finish World champion Michal Kwiatkovski of Poland also abandoned the Tour later in the stage Contador jumped away from the peloton with team mate Michael Rogers in the ascent to the Col de la Colle St Michel but was quickly reined in and the Team Sky-led pack let the breakaway build a nine-minute lead Geschke powered away from that leading group before the tough ascent to the Col d’Allos — at 2,250 metres the highest point of this year’s Tour Pinot launched the chase and at the top of the Col d’Allos had halved the deficit But in the descent the Frenchman skidded off and crashed He quickly remounted but had cut his legs and only managed fourth behind Talansky and Colombian Rigoberto Uran respectively A FREE roundup of top news from Guyana you might otherwise miss Fund Australia’s home of LGBTQ+ journalism Minima Gesté and Drag Race France host Nicky Doll have been honoured with carrying the Olympic flame in the official torch relay ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics Parisian drag royalty Nicky Doll and Miss Martini have already completed their respective legs of the official Olympic Torch relay dressed in a drag version the official white Olympic relay outfit Nicky Doll said that carrying the Olympic torch was “an absolute honour” Miss Martini began her trek with the flame after opening a ball in Digne-les-Bains she announced she was “officially the 1st Drag Queen ‘of the world and the universe’ to carry the Olympic Flame for [the Paris 2024 Olympics].” A post shared by Miss Martini 🍸 (@miss.martini.queen) who carried the flame through Bouches-du-Rhône the following day A post shared by Nicky Doll (Karlize) (@thenickydoll) Nicky Doll used the opportunity to call for a ceasefire in Palestine: “Even though I usually prefer to act on things rather than hope for them: I would like to use this opportunity to hope for the immediate ceasefire in Rafah and for dignity to be brought back to Palestine and its people who tremendously suffered throughout these awful times and beyond,” Doll wrote “I hope for the safe release of the Israeli hostages that have been held away from their loved ones since October 7th I hope for people to not turn savage on each other and allow racism Islamophobia and anti-semitism to run wild again “I also wish for people to educate themselves on topics from reliable sources and stop the massively toxic impact of propaganda that social media and the internet has allowed to spread “These are a lot of hopes but I ran these meters carrying that torch and looking left and right to the people smiling and waving at me with this in mind we shouldn’t stop talking about it.” Minima Gesté will take part in the Official Torch Relay in July Editorial Submissions and Enquirieseditor@starobserver.com.au Advertising and Salessales@starobserver.com.au Accountsaccounts@starobserver.com.au By Jean-François Quénet in Digne-les-Bains Caisse d'Epargne's director Eusebio Unzue didn't seem to.. By Jean-François Quénet in Digne-les-Bains The runner up in last year's Tour had some trouble going up Mont Ventoux but he finished less than two minutes behind the new race leader Andreï Kashechkin "Our plan for Oscar hasn't changed," Unzue said "We want him to be at his best for the first mountain stage of the Tour de France." My goal is to be at 100% for the Tour de France." He also said in interview with newspaper Le Dauphiné: "There's no reason for the organization of the Tour de France not to be happy to have me start the race I have nothing to do with Operación Puerto." This two-week route through some of France’s most beautiful landscapes takes in gorgeous farmhouse stays, camping and kayaking, lavender fields and finally the Med• See the La Rochelle-Cognac, and Perpignan and the Spanish border trips The capital of French gastronomy and birthplace of cinema Lyon is a great starting point to discover the Rhône a converted silk factory on the slopes of the Croix-Rousse district (doubles from €77 B&B) On day eight, drive through Embrun, sticking close to the Lac de Serre-Ponçon, and head to Barcelonnette and its Mexican villas. Locals travelled to Mexico in the mid-19th century to seek their fortunes and, having become rich through banking and textiles, returned to their hometown and built the huge villas and extravagant tombs in the cemetery. Villa La Sapinière is now a museum and La Baïta Stay a couple of nights at La Bousquetière (doubles from €80 B&B) in neighbouring Jausiers The restored farmhouse has a basement spa and breakfast terrace with bracing views across the Ubaye valley Dinner could be a magret de canard à la plancha or lamb with green garlic followed by a blueberry tart or a polite version of Eton mess St Croix Lake in Gorges Du Verdon Photograph: Getty ImagesLeaving Barcelonnette the looping Col de la Bonette route is the highest through-road in Europe (2,802m) but the D900 through Digne-les-Bains to medieval Entrevaux doesn’t require driving gloves or holding your breath Ignore the glowing line on the GPS screen and take the D900C towards Digne For the first few miles the road is a narrow ledge cut into a wall of black slate before it emerges into meadows of wild flowers Digne-les-Bains is where the mountains meet Provence, so shops selling hiking boots, binoculars and knives are replaced by boutiques selling honey, nougat, olive oil and lavender soap. The town holds its annual lavender festival in late August the heavily fortified “city” has a cathedral and citadel as well as snack bars and a tiny motorbike museum Various airlines fly to Lyon and Nice from the UK Low-cost carrier Germanwings airliner crashes in French Alps - 144 passengers and six crew members on board • No reports of Maltese passengers on board as yet INFO: We have recently become aware of media reports speculating on an incident though we still do not have any own confirmed information.. Flight path of crashed Germanwings #A320 shows steep descent #4U9525 pic.twitter.com/Cu8AFAnxC1 Je veux exprimer aux familles des victimes de cet accident aérien toute ma solidarité a picturesque town in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence is set to enhance its tourist and entertainment offerings with the construction of a new casino managed by the renowned Golden Palace Group was formally introduced to the municipal council on Tuesday The planned Casino Golden Palace Digne-les-Bains is expected to begin operations by the end of 2026 bringing a mix of traditional and electronic gaming secured the role of public service delegate for this project promising a facility that blends seamlessly into the local scenery while promising significant economic benefits to the community The establishment is designed not only to entertain but also to stimulate the local economy Expected to generate between 7 to 8 million euros in revenue initially with projections rising to over 10 million euros by the end of its 18-year operation the casino promises to bring about 30 new jobs and significant tax revenues to the municipality “The casino’s turnover should be 7 million at the start and more than 10 million at the end of 18 years of operation… This should represent a million euros of revenue per year for the town of Digne-les-Bains,” Khun further elaborated Set within a less than 6,000 m2 plot near the local thermal baths the construction emphasizes ecological sustainability and aims to contribute positively to the town’s ‘thermal village’ concept “It will bring some animation and it will strengthen the entire thermal baths sector,” Khun expressed highlighting the potential for enhanced local attractiveness Massimo Menegalli, president of the Golden Palace Group, echoed this sentiment in a press release, stating in the company’s press release “We believe in the notion of popular entertainment We have designed this casino for the region but especially for the inhabitants of Digne-les-Bains Our conviction is that we can create recreational respectful and responsible places that everyone can make their own.” Architectural harmony and responsible gaming: The casino’s architecture is planned to respect Digne-les-Bains’ ecological and urban balance by integrating naturally into its green surroundings This approach not only ensures a modern and welcoming infrastructure but also adheres to the town’s commitment to environmental stewardship The Golden Palace Group maintains a strong focus on responsible gaming The new casino will incorporate measures to educate and protect players reinforcing the Group’s ongoing commitment to safe and responsible gambling practices the project stands as a testament to the potential for responsible and economically beneficial entertainment venues within the region Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment.