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Le Tribut des trois vaches šŸ„

šŸŒø Interested in discovering Provence from the inside?

Check out our Provence trip in May 2027 šŸŒ» (Early bird prices end on September 30).


How long should you hold a grudge? šŸ˜”ā›°ļø -


Salut Ć  tou.te.s,


Comment une rancune peut-elle durer aussi longtempsā€‰? En 1375, les habitants de deux petites communautĆ©s pyrĆ©nĆ©ennes, situĆ©es entre la France et lā€™Espagne, se disputent lā€™utilisation dā€™une source dā€™eau. Comme rĆ©solution, il est convenu que trois vaches seront offertes chaque annĆ©e en guise de rĆ©paration. Une dĆ©cision de justice qui est devenue une tradition. Aujourdā€™hui encore, trois vaches traversent la frontiĆØre franco-espagnole chaque annĆ©e pour honorer la parole donnĆ©e au Moyen Ƃge.


How can a grudge last so long? In 1375, the inhabitants of two small Pyrenean communities, situated between France and Spain, found themselves in a dispute over the use of a water source. As a resolution, it was agreed that three cows would be offered annually by way of reparation. A ruling that evolved into a tradition. To this day, three cows cross the Franco-Spanish border every year to honor the pledge made in the Middle Ages.


Word of the week:

Rancune, nom fƩminin

Ressentiment durable, sournois, que lā€™on garde dā€™une offense, dā€™un prĆ©judice et pouvant sā€™accompagner dā€™un dĆ©sir de vengeance.

= resentment Ā· grudge Ā· rancor



Preparation:

  • watch this week's episode about the Tribute of the Three Cows: https://youtu.be/Lhm2W_swW_k (Subtitles are available in French and English by clicking on the CC button on the YouTube control bar).

  • prepare one or two questions


Join us in this week and next week's sessions (āš ļø there are some scheduling changes):

  • Tuesday September 1, 2026

āš ļø B2 session exceptionally starts at 8am PT / 11am ET / 4pm BT

French Conversation Group - B2
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French Conversation Group - A2
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  • Wednesday September 2, 2026

āš ļø This is an A1 session. (B1 has moved to Thursday 7am PT / 10am ET / 3pm BT)

French Conversation Group - A1
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  • Thursday September 3, 2026

French Conversation Group - B1
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  • āš ļø No sessions from Sunday, September 6 until Thursday, September 10

  • Sunday September 13, 2026

French Conversation Group - B1
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French Conversation Group - C1
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Bonne semaine et Ơ bientƓt,

Rafaƫl


Which topic should we discuss next?

  • šŸ§³ The word: "Voyage"

  • šŸŸ French fries

  • šŸ›ļø The birth of department stores (19th century)

  • šŸ‡ September grape harvest

You can vote for more than one answer.


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