On November 3, German Chancellor Angela Merkel paid a "farewell visit" to France. France will visit the small town of Beaune in the Burgundy region, which has a long cultural and historical tradition. Why the farewell location in Beaune? What Codes of German-French Friendship are hidden in this town?
Merkel appreciates good wine
During her 16-year tenure in power, Merkel visited Paris countless times and visited Marseille, Biarritz, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Verdun, Compiègne and Metz. However, as its longtime European adviser, Nikolaus meyer-landrut, put it, the time to explore France and its people is always too short. Macron knew Merkel appreciated good wine and invited her to say goodbye to beaune, an idyllic town in Burgundy.
Since the Middle Ages, Beaune has been the center of the Burgundy wine region in the south of Burgundy. Merkel admires Burgundy wines. Usually, after the EU summit talks in Brussels, Merkel and Macron like to have another drink at the amigo. The EU summit in July 2020 coincided with Merkel's birthday, and Macron brought her several bottles of Burgundy as a gift.
Vineyards in Burgundy, France. (Image source: pixabay)
On the 3rd, the Merkels strolled with the Macrons in the small town of Beaune and experienced France, which had rarely been seen in the past 16 years. "Thank you, madame!" The French on both sides of the road waved to Merkel.
Visit the filming locations of the French comedy masters who Merkel has seen
Clément Beaune, the French government's secretary of state for European affairs, said Macron wanted to use the invitation to thank Merkel for "years of fruitful work over the past few years." Macron also took Merkel on a tour of what may be the most beautiful hospital in the world, the hôtel dieu. The hospital was founded in 1443 and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015. Merkel also visited the hospital's "Hall of the Poor" (Salledes pauvres), where patients in need received free treatment.
French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel address the media at the Elysee Palace in Paris on September 16. (Source: Xinhua News Agency)
Still, Merkel came a little early for the hospital's charity wine auction, the most important event of the year in the town of Beaune. On 21 November, this vibrant town will once again be the focus of the international wine world. At that time, new wines from the hospital's 60 hectares of own vineyards will be auctioned.
The famous hospital was also the filming location for the famous French film "La Grande vadrouille" in which French comedy maestro Louis de Finés starred. Merkel's husband, Joachim Sauer, allegedly gave Merkel a collection of Louis de Finnes's films so that she could better understand the French language.
A higher honor than Cole
The farewell party of the evening was held at the Romanesque château du clos de vougeot. The 12th-century castle is home to the Confrérie des chevaliers du tastevin ,d'Or, which has more than 12,000 members around the world. Since its founding in 1934, the Brotherhood has also been open to women. Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl was knighted in 1975 with the title of "tastevin". In June 1993, Kohl again participated in the two-day Franco-German summit in Beaune as Federal Chancellor.
Merkel received a higher honor than Cole: Macron awarded Merkel the Grand Cross, the highest rank in the French Legion of Honor. This is the highest honor a foreign politician can receive. Macron said the medal reflected the solidity of Franco-German relations.
Merkel won't stay as long as Cole. But the night, which began with a concert by 24-year-old French star pianist Alexandre Kantorow, won't be forgotten so quickly. In the traditional castle, people followed the Burgundy proverb: bon appétit et large soif (good appetite and unbridled drinking).
Perhaps Merkel can agree with what Friedrich Sieburg said in her book Gott in Frankreich, "Wine drinkers from both sides of the border are always easy to come together, and their differences are firmly bridged by a love of the same ingredient, not through so-called cultural exchanges." ”
(Editor: Li Yijin)