Emmanuel Macron will present the insignia of Grand'Croix of the Legion of Honor on Wednesday to Angela Merkel in Beaune (Côte d'Or), a major wine-growing place in Burgundy, for his last visit as chancellor in France. This "
farewell visit
" is presented as a "
personal
"
moment
between the two leaders and their husbands, Brigitte Macron and Joachim Sauer, before Angela Merkel leaves politics after the constitution of a new German government expected in December . It "
comes to end years of fruitful work between the President and the Chancellor in order to strengthen Franco-German bilateral cooperation, marked in particular by the signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 2019, and to contribute to the European project
", underlines theElysium.
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It is also about honoring the exceptional longevity of the Chancellor who has led Germany for 16 years and has worked with four French presidents since Jacques Chirac.
For this, Emmanuel Macron will give him the Grand'Croix, the highest distinction of the order of the Legion of Honor, which "
embodies the strength of the Franco-German friendship, maintained by Angela Merkel
", according to the presidency. .
In recent months, the French President has paid tribute to him on several occasions, praising the “
commitment
”, “
patience
” and “
listening skills
” of the Chancellor with whom he has worked closely on the European scene.
Because, according to him, "
Europe cannot move forward if Germany and France do not agree
”.
Beaune, a city which illustrates "the richness of French heritage"
Emmanuel Macron chose Beaune for the visit, which will begin at the end of the afternoon, because it is "
a city whose historical monuments and wine culture illustrate the richness of French heritage
", according to the Élysée. After discovering the historic center, they will visit the famous Hospices de Beaune, a 15th century architectural gem in a flamboyant Gothic style. This former hospital, world famous for its wine estate, had already hosted, in June 1993, François Mitterrand and Helmut Kohl for the 63rd Franco-German summit. But, while the latter had stayed there for dinner, the Macron and Merkel couples will go not far from there, to the Château du Clos de Vougeot, an emblematic monument of wine-growing Burgundy located in the middle of the greatest vintages.
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Founded by Cistercian monks in the 11th century, the castle was intended from its origins for winemaking, in a land now classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The President and Chancellor will be inducted into the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin which, "
since its creation in 1934, has celebrated Burgundy, its traditional cuisine and its wines, as well as Burgundian customs and traditions
", according to the Élysée.
In particular, Le Clos is home to the world championship of eggs in meurette, a Burgundian specialty of soft-boiled eggs in a Burgundy wine sauce.