Walled City Was Home to the Pope in Medieval Times
Saône and Rhône River cruises of southern France often embark or disembark in Avignon. This popular city of about 90,000 is best-known as the residence of the Pope for 70 years in the 14th century. Not surprisingly, the most famous site in Avignon is the Palace of the Popes (Palais des Papes), once the center of Christianity.
The second most popular site in Avignon are the remains of Pont Saint-Bénézet or Pont d'Avignon.
This ancient bridge is the subject of a well-known French nursery rhyme, Sur le Pont d'Avignon.
Avignon was a walled city in medieval times, and much of the old wall remains today. When visiting Avignon for the christening of three new Viking Longships that sail the rivers between Chalon-sur-Saône and Avignon, we had a walking tour that started at our ship the Viking Heimdal. The guide led us the short distance across the street and through a small gate in the wall of the old city of Avignon for a three-hour tour of the old town. Avignon's old town became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
Several river cruise lines visit Avignon on cruises between Avignon and Lyon on the Saône and Rhône Rivers. As noted above, Viking River Cruises has three ships on its "Portraits of Southern France" itinerary. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises also sails a new ship, the SS Catherine, on its "Burgundy & Provence" itinerary. Other cruise lines on these rivers include AmaWaterways, Avalon, A-Rosa, Scenic, and Tauck.
The rest of the photos in this gallery show just a bit of Avignon. It's a great town to spend a few days before or after a river cruise, which allows visitors time to explore the area and see nearby sites like the remarkable Pont du Gard.
The first important site visitors often see is Clock Square, or Place de l'Horlage, which is the center of activity in old town Avignon and site of the City Hall or Hotel de Ville.
Hotel de Ville
The Avignon City Hall, or Hotel de Ville, is located on the town's main square, Place de l'Horlage, which is also called the Clock Square since the Clock Tower is on the back of the City Hall. The Place de l'Horloge is the center of activity in old town Avignon, with shops, restaurants, cafes, street vendors, and a carousel. The square also is the site of Avignon's large Christmas market in November and December each year.
Clock Tower of Avignon
The Clock Tower was built on the 14th or 15th century and backs up to the Hotel de Ville or City Hall on the Clock Square. The Opera Theatre is next door.
Theatre in Old Town
Built in 1846 after a fire, the National Opera Theatre is located immediately to right of the City Hall (Hotel de Ville).
Cathedrale Notre-Dame-des-Doms
Notre Dame des Doms is located on Place du Palais, adjacent to the Palace of the Popes, in old town Avignon. Notre Dame is Avignon's cathedral and dates back to the 12th century.
The giant gilded statue of the Virgin Mary weighing over 4 tons is the most notable feature of the Cathedral. It was added in the 19th century.
Palace of the Popes
When Pope Clement V was elected in 1309, he moved the residence (and headquarters) of the Catholic Church from Italy to Avignon. Since he was French, he believed the King of France would be friendlier to the Pope. Avignon was a tiny town, and the Papacy was able to just buy the whole town.
The huge Palace of the Popes (Palais des Papes) was the residence of the Popes for 70 years. Internal conflict within the Church led to the Great Schism of the West, and a second Pope lived in Rome starting in 1378, but until the conflicts were resolved in the early 1400s, Avignon played an important role as one of the centers of Catholicism.
Since six Popes were elected at the Palace in Avignon, it is still an important historical and religious site. Architects also consider the Palace one of the most impressive medieval Gothic structures in Europe.
Visitors to the Palace of the Popes can tour on their own, with an audio guide, or with a local guide like we did. Entering the Palace, even I could recognize it as Gothic style when I glanced up at the ceiling.
Ceiling Inside the Palace of the Popes in Avignon
The vaulted ceiling in the Palace of the Popes is a good example of Gothic architecture. Many of the walls and ceilings in the Palace were once painted or decorated with figures, but only a few of these medieval artifacts remain.
Courtyard at the Palace of the Popes
The Pope could look out onto this Grand Courtyard from the window of his bedroom.
Cloister at the Palace of the Popes
The Benedict XII Cloister is a courtyard surrounded by two levels of galleries. The lawn, galleries, and pointed archways are still used today for weddings and special events. The Cloister is named for Benedict XII since he was the Pope who ordered in built.
Inside the Kitchen Chimney at the Palace of the Popes
This huge dining room at the Palace of the Popes in Avignon is 130 feet long and 60 feet long. Although the Pope held huge banquets here, protocol made him sit separate from his 200 guests. The wooden, barrel-vaulted ceiling was added in the 20th century. Prior to that change, the ceiling looked like the night sky and was painted dark blue with yellow stars.
The Pope, Cardinals, and guests ate huge dinners in this great hall.
They often had 9 courses, with 3 choices for each course. Or, about 25-30 dishes at each meal!Â
North Sacristy at the Palace of the Popes
Medieval chefs didn't have super-strong electric exhaust fans to remove the smoke and heat from their kitchens. They had tall, funnel-like chimneys like this 60-foot one at the Palace of the Popes. This kitchen would often cook up to five oxen at a time over spits in order to feed the 1500 people working, living in, or visiting the Palace. The nearby gardens supplied the wood for the cook fires.
Great Chapel at the Palace of the Popes
The North Sacristy at the Palace of the Popes links the Great Chapel to the Pope's private rooms. Although these tombs of cardinals and other spiritual dignitaries look real, they are actually plaster replicas.
Pont Saint-Bénézet or Pont d'Avignon
The Great Chapel at the Palace of the Popes in Avignon is 150 feet long and 60 feet high. Its Gothic style is like much of the rest of the Palace. This Chapel is still well-used, hosting about 60 major ceremonies each year.
After passing through the Gift Shop, our tour of the Palace of the Popes concluded, and we walked up the hill towards the Jardins des Papes.
Jardins des Papes in Avignon
Leaving the Palace of the Popes, we got this great panoramic view of the Pont d'Avignon from the walk up to the Jardins des Papes. When completed in the 12th century, this bridge was about 3000-feet long and had 22 arches. It extended across two rivers to a tollgate on the far side. When first built, it was the only bridge across the river between Lyon and the Mediterranean. Today only four arches remain, and the remains are a popular tourist attraction, especially for those who remember the French nursery rhyme.
Les Halles in Avignon
The medieval Popes once grew herbs and plants in this lovely garden on the hill up from the Palace of the Popes. They also had a zoo in the garden. Today, it's a quiet place to walk, feed the ducks, and check out the panoramic views of the Pont d'Avignon and of the old town.
Old Town Avignon
Les Halles may be ugly on the outside, but it's fun to walk around the inside of this market that sells produce, meats, fish, and a little bit of everything else. It's found on Place Pie.
The Jardins des Papes (Garden of the Popes) offers great views of the Rhône River and of old town Avignon. This fascinating medieval town is a marvelous place to either start or end your cruise of southern France on the Saône and Rhône Rivers.
Saône and Rhône River cruises of southern France often embark or disembark in Avignon. This popular city of about 90,000 is best-known as the residence of the Pope for 70 years in the 14th century. Not surprisingly, the most famous site in Avignon is the Palace of the Popes (Palais des Papes), once the center of Christianity.
The second most popular site in Avignon are the remains of Pont Saint-Bénézet or Pont d'Avignon.
This ancient bridge is the subject of a well-known French nursery rhyme, Sur le Pont d'Avignon.
Avignon was a walled city in medieval times, and much of the old wall remains today. When visiting Avignon for the christening of three new Viking Longships that sail the rivers between Chalon-sur-Saône and Avignon, we had a walking tour that started at our ship the Viking Heimdal. The guide led us the short distance across the street and through a small gate in the wall of the old city of Avignon for a three-hour tour of the old town. Avignon's old town became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
Several river cruise lines visit Avignon on cruises between Avignon and Lyon on the Saône and Rhône Rivers. As noted above, Viking River Cruises has three ships on its "Portraits of Southern France" itinerary. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises also sails a new ship, the SS Catherine, on its "Burgundy & Provence" itinerary. Other cruise lines on these rivers include AmaWaterways, Avalon, A-Rosa, Scenic, and Tauck.
The rest of the photos in this gallery show just a bit of Avignon. It's a great town to spend a few days before or after a river cruise, which allows visitors time to explore the area and see nearby sites like the remarkable Pont du Gard.
The first important site visitors often see is Clock Square, or Place de l'Horlage, which is the center of activity in old town Avignon and site of the City Hall or Hotel de Ville.
Hotel de Ville
The Avignon City Hall, or Hotel de Ville, is located on the town's main square, Place de l'Horlage, which is also called the Clock Square since the Clock Tower is on the back of the City Hall. The Place de l'Horloge is the center of activity in old town Avignon, with shops, restaurants, cafes, street vendors, and a carousel. The square also is the site of Avignon's large Christmas market in November and December each year.
Clock Tower of Avignon
The Clock Tower was built on the 14th or 15th century and backs up to the Hotel de Ville or City Hall on the Clock Square. The Opera Theatre is next door.
Theatre in Old Town
Built in 1846 after a fire, the National Opera Theatre is located immediately to right of the City Hall (Hotel de Ville).
Cathedrale Notre-Dame-des-Doms
Notre Dame des Doms is located on Place du Palais, adjacent to the Palace of the Popes, in old town Avignon. Notre Dame is Avignon's cathedral and dates back to the 12th century.
The giant gilded statue of the Virgin Mary weighing over 4 tons is the most notable feature of the Cathedral. It was added in the 19th century.
Palace of the Popes
When Pope Clement V was elected in 1309, he moved the residence (and headquarters) of the Catholic Church from Italy to Avignon. Since he was French, he believed the King of France would be friendlier to the Pope. Avignon was a tiny town, and the Papacy was able to just buy the whole town.
The huge Palace of the Popes (Palais des Papes) was the residence of the Popes for 70 years. Internal conflict within the Church led to the Great Schism of the West, and a second Pope lived in Rome starting in 1378, but until the conflicts were resolved in the early 1400s, Avignon played an important role as one of the centers of Catholicism.
Since six Popes were elected at the Palace in Avignon, it is still an important historical and religious site. Architects also consider the Palace one of the most impressive medieval Gothic structures in Europe.
Visitors to the Palace of the Popes can tour on their own, with an audio guide, or with a local guide like we did. Entering the Palace, even I could recognize it as Gothic style when I glanced up at the ceiling.
Ceiling Inside the Palace of the Popes in Avignon
The vaulted ceiling in the Palace of the Popes is a good example of Gothic architecture. Many of the walls and ceilings in the Palace were once painted or decorated with figures, but only a few of these medieval artifacts remain.
Courtyard at the Palace of the Popes
The Pope could look out onto this Grand Courtyard from the window of his bedroom.
Cloister at the Palace of the Popes
The Benedict XII Cloister is a courtyard surrounded by two levels of galleries. The lawn, galleries, and pointed archways are still used today for weddings and special events. The Cloister is named for Benedict XII since he was the Pope who ordered in built.
Inside the Kitchen Chimney at the Palace of the Popes
This huge dining room at the Palace of the Popes in Avignon is 130 feet long and 60 feet long. Although the Pope held huge banquets here, protocol made him sit separate from his 200 guests. The wooden, barrel-vaulted ceiling was added in the 20th century. Prior to that change, the ceiling looked like the night sky and was painted dark blue with yellow stars.
The Pope, Cardinals, and guests ate huge dinners in this great hall.
They often had 9 courses, with 3 choices for each course. Or, about 25-30 dishes at each meal!Â
North Sacristy at the Palace of the Popes
Medieval chefs didn't have super-strong electric exhaust fans to remove the smoke and heat from their kitchens. They had tall, funnel-like chimneys like this 60-foot one at the Palace of the Popes. This kitchen would often cook up to five oxen at a time over spits in order to feed the 1500 people working, living in, or visiting the Palace. The nearby gardens supplied the wood for the cook fires.
Great Chapel at the Palace of the Popes
The North Sacristy at the Palace of the Popes links the Great Chapel to the Pope's private rooms. Although these tombs of cardinals and other spiritual dignitaries look real, they are actually plaster replicas.
Pont Saint-Bénézet or Pont d'Avignon
The Great Chapel at the Palace of the Popes in Avignon is 150 feet long and 60 feet high. Its Gothic style is like much of the rest of the Palace. This Chapel is still well-used, hosting about 60 major ceremonies each year.
After passing through the Gift Shop, our tour of the Palace of the Popes concluded, and we walked up the hill towards the Jardins des Papes.
Jardins des Papes in Avignon
Leaving the Palace of the Popes, we got this great panoramic view of the Pont d'Avignon from the walk up to the Jardins des Papes. When completed in the 12th century, this bridge was about 3000-feet long and had 22 arches. It extended across two rivers to a tollgate on the far side. When first built, it was the only bridge across the river between Lyon and the Mediterranean. Today only four arches remain, and the remains are a popular tourist attraction, especially for those who remember the French nursery rhyme.
Les Halles in Avignon
The medieval Popes once grew herbs and plants in this lovely garden on the hill up from the Palace of the Popes. They also had a zoo in the garden. Today, it's a quiet place to walk, feed the ducks, and check out the panoramic views of the Pont d'Avignon and of the old town.
Old Town Avignon
Les Halles may be ugly on the outside, but it's fun to walk around the inside of this market that sells produce, meats, fish, and a little bit of everything else. It's found on Place Pie.
The Jardins des Papes (Garden of the Popes) offers great views of the Rhône River and of old town Avignon. This fascinating medieval town is a marvelous place to either start or end your cruise of southern France on the Saône and Rhône Rivers.
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