The Famous Shutters of Provence

Shutters on American homes just hang there as some sort of useless ornament, but the shutters of Provencal homes are functional. Since our villa had them, I am now something of an expert. At night or when it was raining, I reached out and pulled them in, hooking the latch on the bottom. They could really keep the early morning light out. After I got up, I unlocked them and pushed them out against the house. The first picture is of the Hotel d'Europe where I stayed in Avignon.