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Published: October 8th 2021
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Avignon is our home base for this part of Provence. Avignon is located in Southeastern France. It is located on the left bank of the Rhone river. Between 1309 and 1377 the center of the Catholic Church was here and home to seven consecutive Popes. In 1348 Pope Clement VI bought Avignon from Joanne I of Napes. The church controlled the town until 1791 when during the French Revolution it became part of France. Avignon is one of the few cities in France to have preserved its city walls.The wall is about 2.7 miles around. It takes about 20 minutes to walk straight across the city. The streets are cobblestone so you have to be careful walking. This is a living city with schools and shops of every kind.
Avignon Les Halles
An indoor shopping area with 40 different vendors. It is located about three blocks from our apartment. We shop here for wine, fish and prepared meals like lasagna. The fish market has fish I have never heard of. There are some bars in the market and they are always have people drinking even at nine in the morning.
Palais Des Papes
The Pope’s Palace is
the big draw for tourists. Everyone who comes to Avignon visits the Palace. The entrance fee includes an audio guide which is 3D. When you hold up the guide it shows you what the rooms looked like when the Popes lived in the palace. On the screen you see glowing dots. When you touch the dots the screen shows details about objects. This is very cool and it gives you a better idea of life during the Pope’s time in Avignon. We paid extra for entrance to the gardens. This was a waste of time and money. Maybe it would be better in Spring. When you buy a ticket to the palace you get a discount for the evening light show, if you attend on the same day. We buy a ticket for the nine o’clock show. The first part of the light show is in the courtyard projected on the walls. The second part of the show is projected onto the walls of the cloister. The last part of the show is projected onto the garden walls. Music accompanies the light show. We can watch the garden part of the show from our apartment balcony. The show changes once
a year so there should be a show no matter when you visit. I highly recommend the light show and a visit to the Palais Des Papes.
Musee du Petit Palais
The palace is next to the Pope’s palace, it was built around 1319 by a Cardinal. It now houses Italian art and entrance to the museum is free. The highlight of the museum are five beautiful Botticelli paintings. There is hardly anyone here. I think this museum is a gem.
Gardens outside of Pope’s palace
We walk the gardens multiple times. It starts at the top of the hill and has views of the surrounding area. The gardens have fountains, cafe and playgrounds.
Lunch Cruise on the Rhône River
We took a lunch cruise on the river. Everyone has a window seat. The lunch includes appetizer, main dish and desert. We buy wine to go with our meal. We enjoyed seeing Avignon and the island across from Avignon from the river. I recommend the lunch cruise.
Pont Saint Benezet
This bridge was built in the 12 century. It was partially destroyed multiple times by floods. It was rebuilt in the 17th
century but not finished and that is how it looks today. You pay to get on the bridge and entrance fee includes an audio guide.
Musee Louis Vouland
This museum is located in a mansion. The owner of the mansion collected art, porcelain and decorative arts. This is not a museum in the traditional sense but more like a visit to a rich collector’s home. This is a museum you visit when you have seen all the first tier attractions. Since we are staying in Avignon we has time for this museum.
Free Ferry Across the Rhône
Below the Pope’s Palace is a free ferry across the Rhône River. The ferry goes back and forth all day so there is never a long wait. There is an island in the middle of the river with homes, restaurants and house boats. We take the ferry and walk along the path. Walking, bike riding or eating are the activities here. It was nice to have a nice quiet walk along the river,
Musee Calvet
This museum located in an 18th century house and has a variety of art. We saw statues, painting and a collection of
Egyptian art. The is a museum you visit if you have time and have visited the main attractions in the city. We have time to hit the smaller museums.
We enjoyed waking through Avignon discovering the different neighborhoods. We stopped at multiple pubs, found an art exhibition in an old church, I rode a merry go round and we stumbled on a event in a park with entertainment. You never know what you will find just walking around. We think Avignon is a great place to come for a short or long visit.
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stanley
non-member comment
Avignon
Love the city and it's architecture. They don't build bridges like they use too.