Avignon sits at the confluence of the
Rhone and the
Durance, a location that makes the area prone to flooding.
The old city
center proudly features the original massive medieval ramparts.
Avignon is first mentioned as a Greek colony around
550 BC and later Gauls, Romans, Goths, Franks and many others left their marks here.
But Avignon's history is most
strongly connected to the
Papacy. In 1309 Pope
Clement V made Avignon the Pontifical residence. The Papacy returned to Rome in
1378 but Avignon remained a papal possession and enclave till 1797.
The popes did not rely only on divine protection, but had the town
enclosed by a strong city wall and inside they built the
Palais des Papes, a massive medieval Gothic fortress, palace
and church.
Apart from the Palace, the other tourist attraction is the
Pont d'Avignon, the remnants of a 13th century bridge
that once spanned the Rhone, but today only 4 of the original 22 arches remain. The bridge was the inspiration for the famous song
Sur le Pont d'Avignon.
We spent a few hours in Avignon on a sunny afternoon in November 2013.
behind this nice old facade now houses an art gallery
Rue Folco de Baricelli
the ramparts were built between 1355 and 1370
another view of the Pont d'Avignon
the facade and entrance of the Palais des Papes
the walled city of Avignon sits at the east bank of the Petit Rhone
the Palais des Papes and the massive rampart towers dominate the skyline
a gilded Virgin Mary stands on top of the cathedral that is dwarfed by the massive tower of the Palais des Papes
the Petit Palais was built around 1320 and is now a museum
a view to the North of the petit Rhone
from the Parque Roche des Doms you have a nice view of the Pont d'Avignon
a narrow walkway over the rampart will bring you to the western tower of the Porte du Rocher
this is the original trajectory of the bridge, way back in 1185
the view from the far side of the Pont d'Avignon
a steep flight of stairs inside the tower
a view from the new bridge over the Rhone: the Pont d'Avignon glows in the afternoon sun