Immerse yourself in a Christmas between Provence and Camargue in Remoulins

Santons, these Provençal figurines put in the spotlight at the time of Noëlare the stars of the new Provencal village and the new nurseryfrom the passionate Jean-Paul Lacroix to Remoulins.

In the nursery and the village, traditions highlighted

For the second consecutive year, the municipality made available the deconsecrated chapel of Saint-Martin. She hosts her gigantic creations on two stages with a surface area of ​​5 and 8 m² installed for the occasion by the municipal technical services.

A feat and a wonderful challenge for the sixty-year-old who presents more than 400 figurines (from 7 to 9 cm) with this year two themes: a Christmas in the Camargue and the Provençal Christmas village with the Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer church in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.

There are many scenes in the herds with the villages of herdsmen, horses and bulls. Bouvine is also well represented with a race of raseteurs in the municipal arenas, a abravado and gauze.

Around thirty homes, the Daudet millthe fishing port with the boats, the sea urchin and octopus fisherman, the old trades and scenes of Provençal life… Without forgetting the monuments of Occitanie, such as the Pont du Gard, made by his friend d'Aimargues from expanded polystyrene (just like the church of Les Saintes).

He presents his nursery in the heart of a Provençal village. Jean-Paul Lacroix worked on his creation several hours a day. In total, it took almost three months for it to take shape.

Santons, a passion since childhood

This village and this crèche, an exhibition organized by the Lou Santoun association created by Jean-Paul Lacroix. This former officer in the Engineers and originally from Draguignan has always been passionate about Provence figurines and nativity scenes, since his early childhood.

Influenced by his grandfather and his parents who, every year, during the summer holidays and numerous trips, bought figurines in the Marcel Carbone workshops in Aubagne.

And to continue: “CThis is also the message that I want to convey and transmit, while creating happiness and joy for all generations. Even more so as the end-of-year holidays approach, when families get together and forget, for a few moments, the worries and worries of everyday life.”

The creation of villages and nurseries, a pleasure-passion

Creating these exhibitions is more of a pleasure-passion than a job for this retired soldier. For five years, the Remoulinois had exhibited a Provençal nativity scene on the exclusive theme of the works of Marcel Pagnol in old Remoulins, in his garage adjoining his home.

Jean-Paul's main asset is to highlight and give pride of place, like a director, to the creations of the crechists and more than twenty artisan santon makers such as Campana, Colette, Carbonel (his parents' collection), Escoffier, de Marantz, Alartenco… To name just a few.