Léopold Truc's Paradise in Cabrières d'Avignon

One day in August, 2013 my cousins decided to take me to a place in Cabrières d'Avignon, Vauclause that they loved.

"Where are we going? " I asked, but they didn't tell me and wanted to keep it a surprise. A surprise that I will however spoil for you (I'm sorry), as I tell you about Léopold Truc's enchanting creation which he appropriately named, Paradise.

A little way away from the rest of the world, you'll find a garden and an abandoned house. You may think that that they are mundane, but you are incorrect. This is not just any place; the colours and the forms of the building walls, which are completely covered in seashells, pebbles, and reddish and greyish toned mosaic tiles, match the typical southern France shrubbery beautifully.

Due to the colour and elongated shapes which looked a bit like chimneys, some of the sculptures and the main house wall reminded me of the world famous Antoni Gaudí's style; for example, his use of mosaics as well as the chimney faces that you see in Casa Mila and in buildings in Barcenlona's Parc Güell. I don't know if anybody else will see the resemblance but I do believe that everybody will agree that both the sculptures are small architectural wonders.

As well as its rather unusual but beautiful appearance and the peacefulness of the area, I love Monsieur Truc's evident patience and devotion throughout his life to finish this enormous piece of work.

In fact, there are mosaics in the garden, on the external wall, the pillars, the niches in sculptures, on the tower, which overlooks the garden and also actually really resemble a ship's bow, and on the floor.

It seems that Monsieur Truc thought of everything! Right in the middle of his Garden of Eden, where he invested so much of his time and energy, he even took the time to create his own tomb, which matches the rest of his constructions, that has a cross and the inscription 'in memoriam' written in white.

Now isn't that just incredible?