Version française

Jamais, depuis des siècles que la grotte des « Jardins de Magali » est occupée au pied de la falaise de Lauris, une autorité, un organisme, un pouvoir quelconque n’avait songé à la confisquer pour régler un litige !

En ce début de l’année 2015, un danger en effet menace cette grotte.

Faits incontestés :

Il y a deux ans ( 2012), le SIVOM ( Compagnie des eaux de Pertuis) a décidé de déplacer les compteurs d’eau de la rue Savonnière et de la rue des Carrelets de l’intérieur des caves à l’extérieur dans la rue pour des raisons pratiques : plus facile à lire. Les raccords entre l’ancien compteur et le nouveau était la responsabilité du SIVOM : suppression des tuyaux en plomb, étanchéité du conduit.

Trois mois après les travaux, des taches suspectes d’humidité sont apparues dans les habitations troglodytiques et dans la grotte supérieure des Jardins de Magali. Alertés par lettre recommandée, les services du SIVOM sont venus vérifier la conduite principale et n’ont relevé aucune anomalie. L’imprégnation d’eau dans le rocher ( safre) qui soutient le quartier continuait d’une manière progressive. Les fuites venaient des raccords installés par le SIVOM des anciens compteurs aux nouveaux. Le SIVOM prétendit que ce n’était plus leur responsabilité, étant donné que le délai d’un mois accordé aux consommateurs pour vérifier les fuites était passé. Or ces fuites ne pouvaient être décelées car l’eau s’infiltrait dans les tranchées creusées dans le safre pour recevoir les nouvelles conduites et s’y imprégnait. Impossible de déceler une malfaçon immédiatement. C’est l’apparition des taches qui alerta les habitants du quartier..

Après de nombreux courriers des habitants du quartier et surtout d’André Girod, une réunion eut lieu et le SIVOM rejeta en bloc les réclamations des habitants du Carrelet.

Devant l’insistance d’André Girod et de trois autres habitants qui constataient les dégâts dans les habitations troglodytiques et dans la grotte des Jardins de Magali, le SIVOM en décembre 2014, par la voix de son directeur, Anthony Vitali, a changé de tactique: dans la lettre ci-dessous, le SIVOM a décidé d’employer des méthodes dignes du gouvernement de Vichy pour la spoliation des Juifs ou de la Mafia de Sicile : menace de confiscation de la propriété, menace de fermeture et de la destruction de la grotte des Jardins de Magasins et arrestation d’André Girod par la police pour tout le tapage qu’il fait pour défendre les droits et intérêts des habitants du quartier du Carrelet.

Lettre :

Cette lettre est indigne, grotesque et pleine de menaces. Nous ne pouvons rester indifférents devant une société de services publics qui, pour éviter ses responsabilités et devant l’indifférence des pouvoirs publics ( Préfecture du Vaucluse et Mairie de Lauris) a lancé un assaut frontal contre André Girod et les habitants du Quartier du Carrelet. Notre simple demande était de réviser les raccords ancien compteur au nouveau de tous les habitants dont les factures d’eau ont explosé, passant du simple à 8. Quelques exemples sont présentés ci-dessous :

Adresse consommation 2012 consommation 2013

29 rue Savonnière 18 m3 126 m3

16 rue des Carrelets 63 m3 123 m3

20 rue Savonnière 57 m3 171 m3

Let’s save the « Jardins de Magali »

Never before, in a thousand years, this cave and piece of land had been threatened to be confiscated by any power in order to solve a problem.

This is what is happening in 2014.

Let ‘s establish the facts :

In 2012, Sivom ( the water company for Lauris, set up in Pertuis) decided to move the watermeters from inside the houses to the outside : 2 valid reasons : easier to read the meters and remove the old lead pipes. Some of the houses date back to the 18e century.

Three months after the removal of the watermeters, humidity stains appeared in the troglodite sections of the houses in the district and on the top part of the cave in the Jardins de Magali. A registered letter was sent to Sivom to ask them to check the water pipe system. A Sivom representative came to check and he found no anomaly. All was supposed to be in order. However the humidity continued to grow. The leaks must have been in the new pipes between the old meters and the new. Sivom refused to verify pretending it was the responsability of the owners : they should have declared a leak within the first month after the removal of the old meters. But the leaks could not be detected because the water impregnated the tender rock through the new drains.

A meeting was held to no effect : refusal of the water company to accept to verify the pipes.

In the meantime, the people around the cave of the « Jardins de Magali » started to get incredible water bills : from 15 m3 ( 2012) to 130 m3 ( 2013). The argument from Sivom to explain these incredible bills was to advise the consumers to « learn how to turn off faucets » !

But Sivom had to face the stubborness of André Girod and some onwners of the district to find a just solution to the problem of water waste and humidity in the district. Upon the advice of one of the assistants to the Mayor of Lauris, Sivom through his director, Anthony Vitali, decided to send a letter threatening André Girod of confiscation and destruction of his property. In case of refusal, the police would be sent to arrest him.

This new method is exactly like what happened during the war by the Vichy Government to confiscate the properties of the Jews or by the mafia to shut up any contestant.

It is difficult to believe that this method can still be used in the 21st century in France !

Letter from the Sivom ( in French)

Support from our former artists who exhibited in the » The Jardins de Magali » :

Marianne Fons American Quilter

Ediror in Chief magazine Fons and Porter

--Host of "Fons & Porters Love of Quilting" nationwide in the US on Public Television

--Co-founder of Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting magazine, circulation 310,000

"To Whom It May Concern:

I'm writing to express my support of the work of the beautiful Jardins de Magali and of Andre Girod.

I have learned, with dismay, that there are threats to the safety of this remarkable and unique living monument to art of every kind.

In the early 2000s, for three consecutive years, I brought a groups of about 30 American quilters to Provence. Andre Girod was my very capable co-leader, handling all transportation and accommodation needs in France.

"French-American Day" each time at Jardins de Magali was the high point of the week-long tour. Local French quilters were invited to luncheon in the courtyard. Exchanges of small quilts between the American and the French quilters were made. All toured the artwork on display in the caves. Each time, it was a wonderful day of camaraderie and communication (sometimes despite a language barrier) among art loving people.

The Jardins complex, is, in my opinion, a national treasure of France.

I will mention also that my husband and I have visited Andre and Francoise both prior and subsequent to the tours I brought to Provence. We are quite familiar with the history and layout of the Jardins. We have shared the story of this amazing place with many American friends.

Any threat to Andre and the art display center he has established in Lauris would be despicable, in my opinion.

Yours truly,

Marianne Fons"

Dianne Ogg Painter from Australia

"To Whom it May Concern,

As an Australian artist who is fortunate to have exhibited paintings in the Jardins de Magali, I would like to urgently request any help and remedy required for the preservation of this historic, cultural and tourist destination of local and international importance. The jardins are not just a garden or gallery, but a site of major historic interest, as well as of cultural and artistic encouragement that must be preserved.

Andre Girod has been incredibly active in drawing artists and performers from as far away as Australia to exhibit or perform in this amazing venue.

Please help him to continue this worthwhile endeavour.

Yours Faithfully,

Dianne Ogg.

Dianne Ogg BSc Gen Sc

Paintings by Design"

Sheila Frampton Cooper, American artist

In May, 2014, I had the great honor of exhibiting my artwork at the Jardins de Magali, in the lovely village of Lauris. I was invited by André Girod. I was one of four artists and it was a wonderful show.

The exhibit was a great success and we had so many special visitors, several from neighboring EU countries. We also had tours of people coming to see this amazing venue, which is so magical. With the incredible stone as the backdrop for my art, and the professional lighting that illuminated the work, it made for a truly special experience for myself and everyone who visited.

André Girod's exquisite mosaics throughout the cave, and in various locations in the garden, enhance the ancient feeling of this very special place.

I have told everyone that I'm sure I will never exhibit my work in a place that will come close to the caves at the Jardins de Magali. André has spared no expense in restoring this historic site to it's full glory. It's has been a labor of love that he spent decades and a considerable investment of time and money.

On the last day of the exhibit, André presented a concert with a local jazz band and the residents of Lauris enjoyed a great evening. This is something André does a few times a year, and he does this for the community and to attract people to the village of Lauris.

I sincerely hope that this beautiful place will endure, and bring joy and culture to Provence for many more years to come.

Sincerely,

Sheila Frampton-Cooper

Artist