Church and state

After church we drove to Vinça for the parish meal at John and Lynn's on their terrace. Such occasions are always very convivial. It was an auberge espagnol shared meal and everyone makes an effort to bring something nice. In the early evening I walked up to the belvedere and noticed the Catalan flag flying from the church.  There is a separation between church and state in France which is quite strict but this department is part of Catalonia so I doubt they take much notice.  When Languedoc Roussillon was incorporated into the larger region, newly named Occitanie, all the local villages put up signs saying 'Pays Catalan' to voice their disagreement and independence.