Traveling through Provence with the new Tiguan Allspace
With passion and tradition
Arts and crafts are a vibrant feature in Paul Cézanne‘s home town: Tiguan in Aix-en-Provence
The new Tiguan Allspace. Perfect for short trips and long tours. For example to Provence, the scenic region in the south of France. Via magnificent country roads to a region where the emphasis is on joie de vivre: good cuisine and fantastic art. For example, Aix-en- Provence was the home of painter Paul Cézanne. The university city has almost a hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants and is also home to a small family firm with world-famous products: "Santons Fouque".
"People want to see beautiful things, which is why they come to us,"
explains Catherine Fouque, who manages the family firm together with her husband Emmanuel.
They also have five children: Catherine und Emmanuel Fouque manage the firm
In the fourth generation, they model clay figurines ("santons") depicting not only Christian motifs but also a variety of scenes from the crafts and agriculture.
The figurines are made in various sizes from two to seventy centimeters.
These are miniature works of art with painstaking attention to detail. Small and large at the same time, almost like the Tiguan parked outside the gallery.
In contrast to its shorter sibling, this large Tiguan is a total of 21 centimeters longer. In the interior, the extra length provides more space for passengers, luggage and souvenirs. The five-seater has a cargo space of 760 liters and as much as 1,920 liters with the rear seats folded down. A third row of seats is available as an option; if the seats are not needed, they can simply be folded down into the floor. In other respects, the car offers the same high level of standard equipment as the classic Tiguan: from automatic dimming rearview mirror to air conditioning and the "Composition Color" infotainment system.
21 centimeters longer than its smaller sibling: the Tiguan Allspace.
A glance inside the Fouque family's workshop indicates further parallels to the Allspace: although the total area is rather small, they have created a large amount of space for the team of 10 who work here. Tradition is the family firm's top priority. Up to this day, it has always been a family member who has developed new ideas, created new figurines and produced the first molds.
New designs are a matter for the boss: Emmanuel in the workshop.
Family firm with tradition and international marketing
It all started with Jean-Baptiste Fouque at the end of the nineteenth century. His son Paul modeled the first clay figurine and founded the firm in 1934. Nowadays, it is the task of Emmanuel Fouque to develop new ideas and new figurines. For him, it is not only a matter of continuing the family firm; it is a passion. His wife Catherine handles sales and marketing.
Studied marketing in the USA and Germany: Catherine Fouque in the showroom.
Indeed, she studied marketing, which is how the pair met – in an import and export company where they were both working. Catherine Fouque has travelled the world, studying in the USA and Germany, but her home remains in Provence. "Provence is sunny – I don't just mean the climate but also the people. They are friendly and open and love being together. On the marketplace, in the cafes and the showroom."
When she speaks so enthusiastically about our home region, she does it in perfect German. She learnt German from her mother who moved to Provence from Baden-Württemberg decades ago.
Catherine has adopted many elements of German culture. With their children, the Fouques celebrate Easter as in her mother's home country. The Christmas tree is decorated in a similar way. And some of the clay figurines also embody reminiscences of Germany.
The boss loves German cars
Emmanuel Fouque loves cars, especially German cars. For many years, he drove a classic Porsche but sold it because his job and his family took up so much of his time. He immediately saw the Tiguan Allspace parked in front of the door. It would be perfect to carry goods to the market in Aix-en-Provence and surrounding towns, where there is considerable demand for his figurines. What he likes especially is the crystal clear presentation of the fully digital instruments: "Mon dieu, such precise graphics in such a small space – we always need very fine brushes to paint our smallest figures."
As a seven-seater – the perfect car for the Fouques and their five children.
As a two-seater with a maximum cargo space of 1920 liters – the perfect car for Emmanuel Fouque and many clay figurines.
As a four-seater – the perfect car for four family members on the way to the beach.
On the winding country roads outside the city, the former Porsche driver is impressed by the car's handling: "Of course, it has four-wheel drive. This large car is extremely nimble!" Emmanuel sets the dynamic chassis control to "Sport" and concentrates on the road ahead. "The combination with the powerful diesel, with 500 Newton-meters of torque, makes for a really sporting overall package." He laughs: "I really must speak to my wife. We just need to produce and sell more. This car is in a class of its own!"
The family tradition is also based on true class: all the works of art are modeled from Provencal clay. Emmanuel's grandfather already took his material from the nearby mountain range of Sainte-Victoire. One of the region's most famous inhabitants made the scenery famous with his paintings: Paul Cézanne.
More than 2,000 motifs for customers worldwide
Depending on its size, the production of a single figurine can take up to four months. The smaller sculptures, which are between two and nine centimeters tall, are already molded and dried after one to two days. After an intensive firing process in a special kiln, they are painted and then need to be dried intensively again, after which they are ready for the showroom. Together with almonds, wine and olives, the family's clay figurines have become a trademark of Provence. Catherine Fouque set up an online sales system. Customers from Germany are by no means rare and orders are even received from USA, Japan, Singapore and Australia.
Coveted throughout the world: clay figurine and Tiguan Allspace
Nowadays, the range includes 2,000 figurines and is still growing. The continuation of the family tradition is secure. Each of them has two children from their first marriage and they have one daughter together. Emmanuel is now going to collect her from school. He takes a brief look at the Allspace: "Yes, that would be the ideal car for us. With three rows of seats, we could all fit in."
Perhaps the car will be parking in front of the Fouque family's workshop in the near future?
People in Provence love to take things easy. Emmanuel would also like to have more time. But the firm and the family keep him busy. His wife adds: "I would like to do some painting or needlework, which would allow me to relax. However, this firm is our life. My task is sales and marketing. It doesn't leave much time for anything else, apart from the family," she says. She turns back to the monitor where she is updating the website. Christmas is coming and the pre-Christmas period is the Fouques' main sales season.