Azille (pronounce Uh-Zee) was my home for about a month. It is the place where I ate the best croissants I’ve ever had. It is the place where I confirmed red wine is my favorite. It is the place where I felt part of a family and welcomed by a community, despite not knowing the language nor the people.
These are just some of the many breath-taking views you can experience on a walk in Azille. You can’t expect much of a nightlife here, but who cares when you have this much access to the simplicity and beauty of nature? My time here was spent taking it all in and getting a chance to write and read for pleasure.
A tour of the church was one of the last things I did before I left. It is filled with so much history, as is most of the village. The bell tower is about 36 meters, or 118 feet high, which you can access during the tour. There is a statue of the virgin and child inside, which is said to be one of the finest accomplishments of Southern Gothic sculpture. It has even been transported to exhibitions in Paris.
I only had croissants and bread from the boulangerie but that was enough for me to realize, I had not had real croissants until France.
In the States, I’m a frequent customer at La Madeline for their French cuisine. I’m a big fan of their almond and chocolate croissants. Those don’t even come close to the pan chocolat from this boulangerie. So flaky. So light. So perfectly sweet.
If you ever find yourself in this small village, stop by Inspiré, the local wine bar. It was actually one of the first places I went to. My host is friends with an artist who was having her showing a night after I arrived. Her art was magical and drew a huge crowd.
I went to this wine bar two more times while in town. I was lucky to go on a live music night.
The crowd was just as entertaining as the band at times with their enthusiastic dancing and cheers. One man kept shimmying to the beat, sometimes shaking his behind at unsuspecting friends. The owner told me, “The funny thing is I’ve only served him water. He just loves to dance.”
With friendly management that makes you feel like family, great events, and a lively crowd, it’s hard to stay away from this place.
But, I guess that goes for Azille in general. I think most people might be surprised I chose to stay here for a month. I can’t begin to describe how peaceful it can be to take a walk and just be mindful of your surroundings. To just clear away all distractions, and just be.
Apart from that, as it seems to be with any small town, Azille has its fair share of characters and stories. Meaning, you can only get bored if you let yourself be bored. Me? I’d rather make the middle count, regardless of where I am.