After a couple nights in Saints-Maries-de-la-Mer, we headed a little north to stay in Avignon. I have to say that I loved this charming, walled city. Without kids I think it is a place that I could mosey around for hours just enjoying the ambiance. We had fun nonetheless and the kids especially loved the medieval bridge.
Our group in front of the Palace of the Popes
In 1309 a French pope was elected and moved the papacy to France. The Catholic church bought Avignon and this is where the pope resided for about 100 years.
photo courtesy of Ruby
On the far left is the Cathedral with a gilded statue of Mary on top
Me and April standing in Palace Square
The inner courtyard of the Pope's Palace
Over the Ascension holiday, the Palace of the Popes has a rose festival. There were hundreds if not thousands of roses all around the inner courtyard.
Although you can't tell in this picture...
...we are actually quite high up!
A view of the city from the top of the Palace. You can see Palace Square at the bottom of the picture.
Another shot of Mary and the Cathedral
On the far left you can see St. Benezet Bridge otherwise know as the "pont d'Avignon". Apparently there is a French nursery rhyme about the bridge that all little kids learn and sing. I guess it's like their version of "London Bridge".
Here's another shot of the bridge up close. At one point it was the only bridge that crossed over the Rhone River. It was damaged and rebuilt several times until they finally learned their lesson in the 1600s and decided against it. Only 4 arches are there today but once upon a time it had 22 arches.
Eating our dinner of crepes on the bridge
Looking down the bridge towards the city
Me and my kiddos
photo courtesy of Alex
1 comments:
On our "learn japanese" tape we have "On the bridge of Avignon" in japanese and in english, but not french! but it says "on the bridge of avignon, they're all dancing, they're all dancing..." I guess we had to work on japanese to get our french culture in.
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