Places of Interest - France

Avignon (city):

The Papal Palace ("Palais des Papes)" is the largest Gothic building from the Middle Ages to be found in Europe. It is dominant and looks like a fortress and was used in the time that nine popes acted from France in the period 1309 to 1376. It has two courtyards and consists of 25 rooms. It has twelve towers of which two large chapels can be found in the largest tower. Avignon became the residence of the popes in 1309, during their exile from Rome. Pope Benedict XII and Pope Clement VI had the palace built between 1335 and 1352 on an excellent rock above the Rhone. After the popes went back to Rome, the palace fell into disrepair. During the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte it was used as barracks and prison. In 1906 it became a museum and since then it has been restored. From 1995 the “Pope” Palace was included on the list of World Heritage, together with the directly surrounding part of the historic center of the city.

"Le pont d'Avignon" ("Pont Saint Benezet")

Many people know the name Avignon from the children's song “Sur le pont d'Avignon”, which  is about the Pont Saint-Bénézet (bridge). The Pont Saint-Bénézet is in fact only the remainder of a historic bridge over the Rhone, containing 899 meters long and 22 arches. Only a few arches are left. This 12th-century bridge once formed the only permanent cross-river connection over the river between Lyon and the Mediterranean. The bridge crosses the river Rhône via the island of Barthelasse in the middle of the river. The bridge would have been built by Bénézet, a shepherd boy, who was given the assignment in a dream in which an angel appeared. The Pont Saint-Bénézet was almost completely destroyed by Louis VIII in 1226, after a victory over Avignon. After a repair, the bridge was often damaged over the centuries because of the flooding of the Rhône. Eventually she was not recovered and since the 17th century the bridge has remained a ruin. On the Île de la Barthelasse, under one of the arches of the bridge, there was a café with music where dancing was very popular. This inspired an equally popular song. Originally, there was dancing "sous le pont" (under the bridge) and not "sur le pont" (on the bridge) as is now sung all over the world. You can view/visit the bridge viewings (for a fee) on top but this is just as good than not seen from many (free) places. 

Other attractions in Avignon include the Notre Dame des Doms, the 12th century Avignon Cathedral and the "FFort Saint André". Museums include the Petit Palais, the Requien, the Calvet, the Lapidaire and the Mont de Piété.

"Pont du Gard"

The Pont du Gard is a Roman aqueduct with 35 arches that towers at its highest point 50 meters above the river "Gard". In the 1st century AD. the Romans designed and built a 50 kilometer aqueduct for water delivery to their strategic city "Nemausus" (the current Nîmes). The whole was built so that the water flowed naturally to the city and was used for baths, springs and fountains. The work on the Pont du Gard started in 38 AD. and was completed in 52 AD. The large aqueduct was abondonded in the 6th century AD. when it was then partially destroyed in the La Lôn area. In the 18th century, a bridge was built next to the lower level of the aqueduct. The colossal structure demonstrates the Roman ingenuity in the architectural field. It is 49 meters high, and consists of three levels, the upper being 275 meters long. The aqueduct is on the UNESCO world heritage list. 

At 400 meters from the Pont du Gard is the large exhibition "La Grande Expo" and the visitor center. It is a space that brings honor to the ingenuity of those who have devised and constructed the aqueduct. The Grande Expo is above all intended as an impetus for the discovery of life in Nîmes in Roman times, of the place occupied by the water at that time and of the different techniques used to build the bridges and the aqueduct. There is also a museum, you can take a look at a movie about it and you can finally take a walk through the "Memoires de Garrigue" through this typical landscape of the region. This last hike is free but you will have to pay entrance fee for the visitor center. 

Other attractions:

"Musée Angladon" (Avignon) – where you can see the "Van Goghs" painting "Railway Wagons" and "Villeneuve-les-Avignon". 

Avignon was already known as a high art and culture city when the mighty city walls were built. In 1309, Pope Clement V introduced the Babylonian exile of the popes (1309-1376), thus moving the papal residence from Rome to Avignon. The popes had bought the domination over Avignon in 1348 and merged it with the previously acquired "comtat Venaissin" (now: "Vaucluse region"). When the Pope returned to Rome, however, the schism remained. As a result, the counterpeople Clement VII and later Benedict XIII came to live in the popes palace in Avignon. This last counter-pope was captured in 1398 by Geoffrey Boucicaut and forced to remain inside his own palace. In 1410 the palace was besieged again. In 1433 it was returned to the Roman Catholic Church. Avignon remained a papal state until the French annexation in 1791. During this period (of the 7 French popes) the city was richly decorated and especially the papal palace was decorated. Many political refugees, but also Jews, moved into this now relatively "safe" city in southern France. A power struggle arose between the popes of Avignon and Rome, and although Rome won in the end, Avignon remained under papal rule. This situation persisted until the year 1791 when France annexed the region. Avignon was therefore strictly speaking never a French province; these were abolished a year earlier, in 1790, and replaced by departments. Yet Avignon belongs to the list of former independent countries on the territory of present-day France.