Avignon

I received a request—just one, but a very important one—to produce a page on Avignon. It is kind of odd that no such page exists, because I have definitely been there several times. It's also a bit awkward, as it's not really convenient for me to get to Avignon in the near future; the best I can do is to assemble a page based on photos taken during previous visits. Some of the photos on this page were taken with a Nikon D300, some with a Nikon D750, and a few with my 1974 Minolta SR-T-303 with Kodak Ektar 100 or Kodak Portra 400 film.

One of the two most important reasons people visit Avignon is the Pont Saint-Bénézet, otherwise known as Le Pont d'Avignon. The original bridge, built in the 12th century, spanned both branches of the Rhône River from Avignon to Villeneuve-lès-Avignon. For centuries, it was the only bridge crossing the Rhône between Lyon and the Mediterranean.

The other main attraction is, of course, the Palais des Papes, the Palace of the Popes. In the early 14th century, Pope Clement V, unwilling to face the violent chaos of Rome after his election in 1305, moved the Papal Curia to Avignon, where it remained until 1377, though for a while, during the Western Schism, there were popes in both Rome and Avignon.

Click on any image to see a larger (2400 x 1600 pixel) version!

Around town and the bridge


Avignon City Hall	Schoolyard of the Collège Joseph Vernet


Wrong way!	Espace Jean Alesi


Place Campana	View over the rooftops of the old town


Fun with soap bubbles on the Place du Palais	Fun with soap bubbles on the Place du Palais


On the Place de l'Horloge	The bell of the Chapelle de l'Oratoire


Street lamp in the old town	On the rue Saint-Agricole	Window in the Saint-Agricole church

The Bridge of Avignon, of which only 4 of 22 arches are left; just 160 meters (174 yards) of the original 900 meters (980 yards) remain


The Boulevard de la Ligne goes under one arch of the bridge	These days, it's literally a bridge to nowhere

By and in the papal palace


On the Place du Palais, looking north	The Palace of the Popes, largest Gothic structure of the Middle Ages


Looking down onto the Place du Palais	On the Place du Palais, looking south


The pope's mustard maker—but there's also a figurative meaning!	Looking down from the gardens towards the palace entrance


The Avignon Cathedral	In God we trust... but just in case!	One of the ways to the palace entrance


The Great Hall is 48 m (158 ft) long and covers 500 m² (1,582 ft²)	The gorgeous wood paneled ceiling


There are many convenient places to take one's weight off one's feet	The old windows in the papal palace are beautiful


The old glass distorts the view	Around the main courtyard	View from one floor up


The main courtyard	In the main courtyard


Sculpture of Christ on the way to Golgotha	A different view of the same sculpture

The photos on this page were taken on
April 8, 2009, July 17, 2015, and January 11 and 12, 2019.

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