From French Riviera to Avignon

This morning we left Juan–les–Pins on the French Riviera to travel to Avignon. We would still be in Provence.

On the Road

A photo of the French countryside that we drove through.

19th-Century Dioramas

At a rest stop, there were a number of very detailed dioramas of country life in France in the 19th century. One of the dioramas.

19th-Century Dioramas

Close–up.

19th-Century Dioramas

Close–up.

19th-Century Dioramas

Close–up.

19th-Century Dioramas

Another of the dioramas of country life.

19th-Century Dioramas

Close–up.

19th-Century Dioramas

Another diorama.

19th-Century Dioramas

Close–up.

19th-Century Dioramas

Close–up.

19th-Century Dioramas

Close–up.

19th-Century Dioramas

Close–up.

On the Road

Back on the road, a large town that we passed.

On the Road

Driving through farm country.

On the Road

Passing a church on a hill.

Avignon

We have reached the medieval walled city of Avignon.

Pont Saint-Benezet

The remains of the 12th–century Pont Saint–Benezet over the Rhone River are outside the city wall.

Avignon

Avignon, inside the city walls––shops, restaurants, and old buildings.

Place de l’Horlage

The main square (Place de l’Horlage––Clock Square) of Avignon. Many restaurants are here as well as the town hall and opera house.

Palais des Popes

The 14th–century Palais des Popes (Palace of the Popes) was the papal residence from from 1309 to 1377. In 1378, the papacy was moved back to Rome but the Avignon cardinals did not care for the new Rome pope, so they elected their own pope to reside in Avignon. Christendom now had two popes. This was called the Great Schism. The schism was settled in 1414 and Avignon gave up their pope. The Palais des Popes is also called the Palace of the Antipopes.

I was here on my trip for France when I was 19. I distinctly remember the Palais des Popes as being a rich pink in color and very beautiful. I cannot find any verification of this except for one photo showing some pink left over on the palace, but the photo is copyrighted so I can’t use it. But the pink color could have been sprayed on for the Festival of Avignon, which would have been about the time when I was here. I was disappointed in that the palace was no longer pink.

Avignon Cathedral

The 12th–century Avignon Cathedral is to the left of the palace.

Small Train Tour

I next went on a small train tour of Avignon.

Small Train Tour

We drove up a hill for this view of the countryside, the Rhone River, and the Pont Saint–Benezet.

City Wall

The small train took us outside the city walls.

Inside the City Walls

And then back again to inside the city walls.

Palais des Popes

The small train dropped us off at the Palais des Popes from where we started.

I have put my photos of Avignon on a slideshow. Go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/avignon/ (Slide Shows, Western Europe, France–2, “Avignon”).

Pont du Gard

From Avignon, we drove to the Pont du Gard, a 1st–century Roman aqueduct bridge to carry water from a spring to a Roman colony. The bridge crosses the Gardon River. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the aqueduct no longer was used but the bridge functioned as a toll bridge. The bridge has gone through a number of renovations and traffic is no longer allowed on it. The Pont du Gard is a World Heritage Site.

Pont du Gard

The Pont du Gard closer–up.

Pont du Gard

And still closer–up.

Pont du Gard Visitors Center

The Pont du Gard Visitors Center opened in 2000. It has a coffee shop, a souvenir shop, and a museum. The museum has displays showing how the Pont du Gard was built.

Pont du Gard Visitors Center

More of the display of how the bridge was built. When leaving the Visitors Center, it started to rain with lightning and thunder.

On to Carcassonne

We drove from the Pont du Gard to our hotel in Carcassonne and ate dinner at the hotel.