Artist Presents Painting of Le Crozet, France

It turns out more than one Crozet populates the world besides our lovely Virginia town. Crozet, France is a ski resort on the Swiss border at the foot of the Jura Mountains; the Crozet Islands lie in the Indian Ocean north of Antarctica; and the tiny medieval town of Le Crozet is found in the Loire region of France. Noticing the similarity in names between Le Crozet, France and Crozet, Virginia, hiker and artist Morris Jensen decided to forge a relationship between the two. 

Jensen presented his watercolor painting of the Le Crozet town square to local leaders Michael Marshall, Tim Tolson, and Tony Townsend at the Crozet Library on May 25. The painting is destined to hang over the mantel in the library. Marshall returned the favor by sending the mayor a Crozet flag. Jensen also has plans to paint our Crozet, based on sketches he made during his visit, to present to Mayor Chargueros. 

Jensen, who lives in Riorges, France, has participated in art festivals in Le Crozet. While hiking the Camino de Santiago in Spain and the many caminos in France, he stops to sketch and finishes the paintings in his home studio. All of the American hikers he has encountered have spoken passionately about the Appalachian Trail—especially McAfee Knob in Roanoke County. “So, I always thought that someday I would give it a go,” he said. Looking at a Virginia map to plan his trip, he noticed the town of Crozet, Virginia, not far from the AT. After painting the Le Crozet town square and getting it signed by Mayor Nicholas Chargueros, he tried to contact the “mayor” of Crozet, Virginia—which led him to our editor, Mike Marshall. After hiking the AT “Triple Crown” section and painting McAfee Knob, Tinker Cliffs, and Dragon’s Tooth, Jensen came to Crozet for a visit.

Jensen presented a photo tour of this picturesque medieval town in central France, named a “Village of Character in the Loire.” The town, located about 75 miles northwest of Lyon, began as the castle of the Comte de Forez, built in 1236. In its heyday, the population was 700, but now that number has fallen to 250. All that is left of the castle is the keep and two towers, which still flank the town’s gate. Cobblestone streets and weathered stone buildings, including the Sundial house (first sundial in the country) with its Latin quote “catch the light while it is day,” the church bell tower topped by a statue of the Virgin Mary, and the town hall depicted in the painting—once the house of Egyptologist Mario Meuniere—adorn this charming village. Finally, we were treated to three short videos, including an adorable one made by the school children with the help of their headmaster, Patrice Desfonds, that introduces their town to us.

Marshall hopes to further develop this fledgling relationship with Le Crozet in the future, and to devise other exchanges with our “sister town.” 

For more info, visit www.roannais-tourisme.com/en/patrimoine/villages/le-crozet/