La Venus de Ille

The blend of folklore and suspense in 'La Vénus d'Ille' feels so timeless. I'm curious what influenced Mérimée's fascination with the supernatural in this tale.

The way the story concludes left me pondering whether Mérimée was criticizing blind adherence to customs or highlighting the power of superstition.

The detailed depiction of the town and its customs really immerses the reader, but I wonder how much of that was based on real places or Mérimée's imagination.