Murals in local towns

The French love murals (fresques) on the outsides of buildings, and they are found in towns and cities all over France. The fun thing about murals is that they add a scenic interest to an otherwise bland wall or building, suddenly adding an element that is at once thought-provoking and charming, with a story to tell that is quite often tongue-in-cheek humorous. My favorites are the ones that incorporate local history and traditions, bringing the past to life, as if it were part of present-day life.

Here are some we have seen on recent drives. Remember, these are all painted – almost nothing is real, even if your eye is tricked into thinking it is. This is the fun of trompe l’œil (which means tricking the eye).

A café exterior wall (located in Vieux Perpignan) ~

A faux storefront, homes, garage, staircase and terraces (located in Bédarieux) ~

A faux neighborhood (located in Vieux Agde) ~

Town symbols and history (located at the mairie in Addison) ~

The local economy – wine production (located outside Perpignan)~

Scenes along an esplanade (located in Florensac) ~ 

Traditional architecture (located in Villeneuve-lès-Béziers) ~

Important historical figures (located in Béziers) ~

Honoring the creation of a Molière play (located in Béziers) ~

An art gallery supposedly dedicated to a member of the French resistance in WWII (located on rue Mairan in old Béziers) ~

Celebrating the famous 9 Locks on the Canal du Midi, at Béziers (located in the center of Béziers) ~

Renaissance denizen (located in Vieux Carcassonne) ~

As a mural painter, myself, I am so impressed with the thoughtful design and impeccable workmanship in each and every one of these murals. They add so much to a town or cityscape and are such lovely surprises when discovered by sheer happenstance.