Located on the banks of the Rhone River, the medieval fortified city of Avignon is a favourite port of call on a number of river cruises which explore the beautiful part of the world that is the south of France. Avignon is the capital of France’s Vaucluse department and the Rhone has long played an important role in the commune’s history, forming one of its borders. With a rich past and some true architectural wonders, Avignon’s a captivating city to explore.
Long settled by Gallic tribes, the area on which Avignon now stands began to grow under Roman rule, though by the time of the fifth century it had fell to the Goths, then later the Saracens and was destroyed by the Franks in 737. In 1033, it was passed into the hands of the Holy Roman Empire and set itself up as a republic, then an independent republic at the end of the 12th century, though this resistance was ended after a three-month siege, which started when Avignon refused entrance to King Louis VIII of France and his papal legate. In 1309, Pope Clement V chose the city as his papal residence and from then until 1377, the city was the seat of papacy instead of Rome, owing to Avignon earning the name ‘City of Popes’ which it still sometimes goes by today. The city continued to belong to the papacy until 1791 and the French Revolution, when it finally became French, leaving behind a rich history to discover.
What not to miss
The Pope’s Palace
As you’ve just read, Avignon was once the seat of the papacy, so a visit to the palace where past pontiffs dwelled is a must when exploring this historic city. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with good reason, as it’s the world’s largest gothic palace and has 25 different areas to explore, including the private papal apartments, ceremony halls and a museum. The architecture is magnificent inside and out and if you’re in the city overnight be sure to come back at around 10pm when a light show is displayed on the palace walls to compliment an audio tale of its history.
Cathedral Notre-Dame des Doms
Easy to visit if you’ve just explored the aforementioned Pope’s Palace, the 12th century cathedral was originally Romanesque but after the palace was built, the cathedral was given somewhat of a makeover, receiving a tower and baroque arches. The cathedral houses the tombs of several popes, including the beautiful mausoleum of Pope John XII and an opulent treasury room, which is well worth seeing.
Pont Saint Benezet
This famous Medieval bridge is one a must-see landmark, immortalised by 16th century composer Pierre Certon’s Sus le Pont d’Avignon, which was popularised in an 1876 operetta as Sur le Pont d’Avignon. It dates back to the 12th century, though was destroyed several times by the Rhone’s mighty waters over the years. After several rebuilds it was abandoned in the 17th century, leaving just four arches and a bridge which leads nowhere. You can, however, walk on the remainder and enjoy great views of the river and city and soak up the history.
Place le Horge
This historic square is where you’ll find a host of attractions, including a Ferris wheel, the Avignon Theatre, the Town Hall the old Banque de France. There is of course, a wide choice of restaurants in which to sit and watch the world go by and go by it does, as this popular square is always busy. Whether or not you have time to explore in more detail some of the attractions to be found on the square, it’s a great picturesque place to visit.
Rocher des Doms
These picturesque terraced gardens are easy to reach from the banks of the Rhone or from the Cathedral Notre Dame. They’re spacious and contain such attractions as ponds, lakes and fountains, though the biggest attraction has to be the views. From the terraces, you can enjoy commanding views of the Rhone, the Pont Saint Benezet, the Popes’ Palace and on a clear day, Mont Ventoux, which features one of the Tour de France’s most notorious climbs.
By Simon Brotherton
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