avignon
Avignon, a strategic site in the Rhone valley, owes its origine to the Doms rock. With the arrival of the popes in the 14th Century, the city became a second Rome. It was enriched by art ine the 17th and 18th Centuries, and it remained papal property up to the French revolution.
Some examples of tourist sites:
- The Papal Palace
- The Saint Benezet Bridge
- The Petit Palais Museum
- Notre Dames Des Doms and the Mausoleum of John XXII
- The Moneys Hotel
- The Palais de Roure
- The Saint Didier Church
- The Ceccano Palace
- The Bartelasse Island
- The King René Street
- The Teinturiers Street
- The Banasterie Street
The Papal Palace
The palace is an impressive monument and sits within a square of the same name. It was begun in 1316 by John XXII and continued by succeeding popes through the 14th century, until 1370 when it was finished. This pope's residence is the most important gothic palace in Europe. The visitor can discover 25 different rooms: reception halls, cloister, chapels and Pope’s private apartment with invaluable frescoes. It is ranked by UNESCO as World Heritage for Humanity.
The Saint Benezet Bridge
The bridge of legend is a major witness of Avignon history. Before, it was used to cross the Rhône River in order to do some trade. Today, it is known all over the world thanks to its song “Sur Le Pont D’Avignon”. Built from the 12th century, it was several times damaged by the floods of the Rhône River.
The Petit Palais Museum
The Petit Palais Museum is a beautiful place at the end of the square overlooked by the Papal Palace. Discover its exceptional collection of Renaissance paintings from Italy which reunites many “primitives” from the collection of Giampietro Campana.
Notre Dame Des Doms and the mosoleum of Pope John XXII
The Cathedral Notre Dames Des Doms is a Romanesque building mainly built during the 12th century. The most prominent feature of this monument is the gilded statue of the Virgin which surmounts the western tower. The mausoleum of pope john XXII is one of the most beautiful works within the cathedral and represents a noteworthy example of 14th Gothic carving.
The Money's Hotel
The Moneys Hotel is an exquisite architecture opera which is today a music academy. Note the beautiful sculptures on the frontage of the monument: eagles and dragons belongs to the arms of Borghèse cardinal family.
The Batherlasse Island
The Barthelasse island lays between two river arms. Just facing the Avignon's city walls, it spread on 700 hectares, making the biggest river island in Europe. It is criss-crossed by little roads and pathes very pleasant to run or bike.
The King René Street
The King René Street is a narrow and winding street. It shelters yet the façades of three among the most beautiful mansions in Avignon. They were built in the 17th century, when Avignon boasted about the title of "Altera Roma". The style is Italian, copied on what was done then in Roma. You must lift one's head to admire the façade of the mansion "hotel Berton de Crillon" (1649), listed as historical monument in 1915. The mansion "hotel Fortia de Montreal" dates from 1637, and the mansion "hotel d'Honoratti de Jonquerettes" was built in the 18th century.
The Teinturiers Street
The Teinturiers Street is the most picturesque street in the old Avignon historic town. The traditional pavement consists in pebbles coming from the Durance River. The street runs along a branch of the Sorgue River. It powered many paddle wheels of which some are still there today. From the 17th to the 19th century, Avignon was an important manufacturing center for colored and patterned fabric called "indiennes", still made in Provence. During July, the Teinturiers Street comes alive, it becomes a trendy place of the Festival : seasonal theatres open, restaurants and café terraces overflow on the pavement street and welcome the public and the artists for a rest between two performances.