Avignon is most famous for its- Palace of the Popes (Palais Des Papes)
The Palais des Papes is one of the largest Gothic buildings in all of Europe and was classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995. It certainly is very grand and a focus point of the city! The fact that it is a walled city makes it even more magnificent.
Avignon became the residence of the Popes in 1309 during the period of the Avignon Papacy.
The Popes were based in Avignon, rather than Rome from 1309 to 1376 when 7 popes base their court there. Avignon, at this time was not part of France and the popes moved there due to conflict between the Vatican and the Kings of France. While their time in Avignon was short, the Palais des Papes remained under papal control for over 350 years after the popes moved back to Rome.
We woke after having a great sleep in our motel - Hotel Le Magnan which was inside the walled city of Avignon. This was the view from our window - perfect. Check out time in France is usually 11 or 12 noon which allows time to go for an explore before checking out - we headed out to explore........
First stop - breakfast on the run - croissants and OJ in one of the town squares......perfect!
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| Door sizes go from one extreme to the other - crazy ......... can you spot the castle in the background.................that is where we are headed! |
Beautiful church - Eglise Saint-Pierre - built in 1358 originally and renovated in 1511.
Up the stairs we go - heading toward the Papal Palace - the biggest gothic palace....................
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| The views on the way up.................... |
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| The kids will sniff out a playground almost anywhere we go.............................. |
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| Le Fort Saint Andre across the other side of the river - military architecture of the 14th century |
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| The unfinished bridge ....................Le Pont d'Avignon Saint -Benezet - the bridge was finished numerous times and kept getting destroyed- it was finally given up on in the 1700s and remains as is today. |
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| The boys notice different things to me - and wanted a photo of the pigeon on the statues head.................. |
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| Cute little grotto - |
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| The Papal Palace |
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| The papal palace in all its glory |
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| Always little alleyways........................... |
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| Leaving the city of Avignon - this is a place to come back to and spend a whole day exploring - we only scratched the surface of the Papal Palace and all that history that abounds. |
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