Vauvert, Nîmes and Arles – Cultural Pearls 2018

We are delighted to read what the tourism industry’s trade press is predicting: in 2018, more than a third of travellers would prefer a Chambres d’ Hôtes instead of a hotel complex. They seek the discreet attention of their hosts and they long for an authentic travel experience. Local food and drinks are central. And many would choose Vintage Travel – returning to the places where they were with their parents as a child. It is also a trend to combine holidays with the attendance of a cultural event. It’s no wonder: The New York Times Magazine lists Arles as “place to visit in 2018”.

A truly rosy future awaits the Envie de Sud! Fortunately, we are expanding our bed capacity… whether we should call our architect and construction manager to make some pressure?  Yeah, the remodeling, that’d give stuff for a whole book. But everything in its time. Let’s devote ourselves to the fine arts for the moment. We would like to introduce you to five event pearls from Vauvert and its surroundings.

Friends of jazz and photography watch out – in the first week of July we would like to go out with you guys.

Sleep late in the morning, then have a hearty breakfast, hang out at the pool and read or maybe go for a short bike ride or horseback riding tour and in the afternoon and evening we let ourselves be culturally sprinkled. We are spoilt with choice, or rather the luxury of choosing from two top events. In Vauvert itself, the highly endowed jazz concerts will take place in the arena, and in nearby Arles, the elite of international photography will welcome the 49th time on the occasion of Les Rencontres de la Photographie. 

Even more jazz and a 25th anniversary will be celebrated shortly afterwards from 19 to 21 July 2018 on the occasion of Jazz à Junas.

Les Grands Jeux Romains – Spartacus 28/29/30 April 2018 in the arena of Nîmes

Spectacular and a rare opportunity for all those interested in history. More than 500 actors play in the setting of the Roman arena of Nîmes. The mood? Almost like Spartacus’ time. Wouldn’t that be an idea for the extended first of May weekend?

Festival de la Camargue et du Delta du Rhône from 7-13 May 2018

The Festival de la Camargue is especially close to our hearts. For once, it is not culture as an art in itself but the most precious cultural asset of this region: the Camargue Nature Park with its flora and fauna. There’s a lot to offer: Accompanied hikes, workshops on environmental protection and sustainable management of nature parks and, as every year, a photo exhibition with touching animal and nature shots.

This is our 5 event tips for the coming months.

Of course you are also very welcome outside of these dates. At Easter, for example, we still have rooms available.

See you soon in the Envie de Sud!

Sincerely, Ursula & Andreas

In the last few weeks I’ve been asked several times about our “Table d’ Hôtes” in the town. It smells so good when you walk past the Envie de Sud in the evening, » flattered residents and passers-by. They stop in front of the kitchen window and look. Some are shy, some are offensive. I have already offered warm, juicy lemon muffins on this occasion. The recipe is simple: lots of fresh butter, eggs, some sugar, finely sieved flour, baking powder and the juice of sun-ripened lemons. And finally, … no, I won’t tell you. Maybe in a convivial circle, when we all sit at the long table and I start chatting…

The evenings, in which Andreas and I sit together with our guests at the table, are always something special for us. The openness with which we encounter the guests is touching. The Table d’ Hôtes is more than just good food and drink. It is a gathering among like-minded people: couples, families, single travelers and us. We cook and eat with you. Usually relaxed. Every now and then I have to improvise a little bit. Whenever more guests arrive at short notice or I run out of time in the afternoon.

I cook several evenings a week for a smaller or larger group. More often on request. The concept is always the same: around 7 p. m. we serve an aperitif and appetizers. Both we and our guests get to know each other. Andreas and I translate as needed. This is going very well. Only on one evening our language skills were not enough: Czech is not in our repertoire. But with a few words of English, German, hands and a lot of good will, the conversation got off to a quick start. In retrospect, it was one of the most convivial evenings. Like-minded souls obviously always find a way.

The Envie de Sud table is almost exclusively made up of regional and seasonal products. I let myself be inspired by the market while strolling around and then put together the menu. Recently, for example, I have served the following: Battaviasalad with fried mushrooms, bacon, shallots and figs and a pumpkin-lentil coconut soup with mussels. Afterwards, we had saltimbocca of cod with saffron risotto and broccoli. A refreshing yoghurt mousse with kaki foam was the final touch. The hallmark of my kitchen: I rely on the natural flavors of the products. A dance of taste and color. I pay the main attention to the “green stuff”. Whether roasted, steamed or raw – vegetables are my personal star. Some people are amazed at what you can conjure up from a modest cauliflower.

At the moment we are only allowed to serve overnight guests at the Table d`hôtes. We don’t have a public restaurant license. French state is sometimes capricious. We are growing with the challenges of the French appropriation jungle. Whether and how and when we might turn the Table d’ hôtes into a public place will become clear in futur. We will remain true to the concept: a maximum of 15 guests, a long table and a menu at a fixed price. We are looking forward to the next weeks and months and will keep you informed.

Of course, there is another way. A couple from Vauvert booked a room with half board and enjoyed a weekend in the Envie de Sud without long journeys and without traffic jams. They would have found time for togetherness and a pleasurable experience and definitely found it, they told me at the breakfast table. They plan to come back soon.

Cordially,

Andreas & Ursula

Every Wednesday and Saturday there is a weekly market in Vauvert. Not far from the Envie de Sud, farmers and traders from the surrounding area set up their stalls and “tout” Vauvert makes a pilgrimage to the market in the course of the morning. On Saturdays, the offer is particularly rich: in addition to sun-ripened vegetables and fruit from nearby fields, fish and seafood, cheese specialties or hearty sausages, there are also many curiosities such as new mattresses. Of course, you can try out the beds. The chatty salesman has repeatedly asked us to do so. So far, we’ve done without it. Though we don’t just walk by him without curiosity. What seems to be completely normal here seems to us to be “exotic”.

The fashionable trend for young boys seems to be trainer pants with side stripes in the “flooding” version – i. e. maximum ankle-length. The stylish pieces flutter at top prices on numerous clothes stands and await interested buyers. Of course, “man” can try on this chic leg dress discreetly in the rear flap changing cabin of the delivery vehicle. It’s perfectly normal here.

Delicious scented clouds of grilled chicken or freshly prepared tellines – small mussels prepared with garlic and herbs – let us soak the water in our mouths. With the sweet Fougasses d’ Aiges-Mortes, a yeast pastry with lots of sugar and orange blossom water, we weaken and grab hard.

At Samy, the busy fish and seafood merchant, we also pass by. Shrimps, dorades, bonito, rouge, sardines, mussels, snails… the choice is difficult and we can’t get any fresher. We do our last purchases at the grocery store. The bags are always filled with everything that the season has to offer when we walk home afterwards.

Never missed in recent months have tomatoes. Real tomatoes with lots of flesh, soft skin and an incredible aroma. Countless varieties are offered. Brown tiger tomatoes, ox heart tomatoes, bottle tomatoes, green tomatoes… they’re all delicious. Without exception. Honestly, we’ve never had tomatoes like this before. There’s real life in there. Acid, sweetness, juice and bite. We like them best in slices with small basil leaves, coarse Camargue’s salt, freshly ground pepper and a few drops of fruity olive oil. A poem every day anew. We are a little nostalgic because the tomato season is coming to an end. It’s autumn.

The only consolation is that the gardens of the Camargue produce good vegetables all year round. A stroll through the market, combined with a café au lait in the hall’s bar or a pastis, is a must for your stay in the Envie de Sud. And instead of tomatoes, we will spoil you with baked pumpkin slices from the oven, served with a fine roast or a lentil dish with root vegetables and trout fillets. And in early summer they return: our beloved tomatoes. We are pleased.

Cordially,

Andreas & Ursula