It is said that Avignon has three hundred days of sun a year. Something like Naples, Florida, without the millionaires, I would say... We weren't that lucky, however, the days we stayed there. Anyhow Avignon, the capital of the Vaucluse département, is a beautiful small town (ninety thousand inhabitants), and definitely deserves a visit! And in July, it's time for the Festival d'Avignon. From 6th through 27th July, 2007, we’ll have the 61st edition...
"GARGOYLES against a cloudy sky"
"LE PONT D'AVIGNON - There is a legend about the bridge: a young shepherd by the name of Bénezet came to Avignon from his native Ardèche, in 1177. He said that he was sent by God to build a bridge there. Mocked by the crowd, the shepherd was challenged by the bishop to lift a huge stone and throw it into the Rhône. Bénezet did not hesitate and lifted a mammoth block and pull it into the water, assisted, it is said, by divine intervention. The «Pont St. Bénezet», open to traffic in 1184, was the first construction over the Rhone River, between Lyon and the Mediterranean Sea. The bridge was paved in 1377, and “collapsed” in the 17th century. «Sur le Pont d’Avignon» is also the name of a famous song: «Sur le Pont d'Avignon, on y danse, on y danse, sur le pont d'Avignon, on y danse tous en rond...»"
"WALKING around, near the Rue de la République"
"SAINT PIERRE"
"ON THE WAY to the Popes Palace Square"
"NOTRE DAME DES DOMS on the top of the Romanesque style cathedral, and the tower of the Palace"
"PALAIS DES MONNAIES (THE MINT) - The baroque front of the Mint contrasts with the austere walls of the Palace of the Popes who face him. Built in 1619, the eagles and the dragons shown are the weapons of the family of the cardinal of Borghèse. The Mint houses today the academy of music Olivier Messiaen, and in July, during the Festival of Avignon, the association Avignon Festival Off"
"PLACE DU PALAIS - The Popes Palace Square is a large esplanade of 240x48 metres. It is overlooked by the impressive façade of the Palace of the Popes, facing the baroque sculptures of the Avignon's Mint"
"PALACE OF THE POPES - «The most beautiful and the strongest house in the world» is the way Jean Froissart described the Palace of the Popes. The construction was started in 1335 and completed in less than twenty years. It was included in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1995. Decorated by Simone Martini and Matteo Giovanetti, it dominates the city, the surrounding ramparts and the remains of a 12th century bridge over the Rhone"
"LA COMPAGNIE DES COMPTOIRS - A very nice place to have dinner and enjoy..."
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16 comments:
Belle contine enfantine que nous chantions en faisant la ronde. Vous avez du voir le fameux pont cassé,Le pont Saint-Bénezet, couramment appelé pont d'Avignon?, une autre contine connue: sur le pont d'Avignon, on y danse, on y danse, sur le pont d'Avigon, on y danse tout en rond.
Sur mon blog j'ai publié des photos de la pointe de sao Lourenzo.
Funny, when we visited Avignon in late September, it was also cold and raining...
I am impressed that it only took 20 years to build the Palace - unusual for those times.
To appease Peter, I will post everything negative about living in Naples. If you are tired of this "perfection" as Peter calls it, come visit me tomorrow ;-)
a place rich in history.. thank u for sharing it all
A wonderful city, where I have spent much time - friends and family around! Avignon was also the place where I spent my very first night in France - in June 1968, the first working day after the May "revolution". The first time I kissed my future wife was on the "pont d'Avignon"....
Yes, normally the sun should be there, sometimes with a bit of Mistral to cool down the temperature!
Really nice reading for me - and others, although I think you should possibly have added something about the wall, well preserved, which surrounds the old city.
Thanks for your kind remarks on my blog today. Yes, it's not easy to make the "blog tour", especially when you don't have the possibility to do it on a more or less everyday basis.
A place worth visiting, very rich in history.
Thanks for sharing.
I love the one which says "ON THE WAY to the Popes Palace Square" COOL
Florida does get its share of grey skies, that its share is like a week in a year is a different story altogether ;)))
the dining place looks nice and warm...and other pics made an interesting post :)
The gargoyles photo reminds me of the "Ghost Buster" movie. The details in some of those buildings are great. Looks like you had a good meal in the one photo. We went on a wine tasting tour in CA this past week on vacation.
Today I posted something yummy and if you'd like to see more of my vacation photos, just click on the bold link on my personal blog.
I guess there will be more people in this nice restaurant these next days...
hmmmm... Avignon Ardèche!?? compagnie comptoirs??
european language is soooo difficult lol
would u please send me that nice dinner??
im getting very hungy *tear*
nice series of photos as always!!
Normally there should be a new post today, after the weekend. Travelling?
What a beautiful place ..:D Thank you for visiting my blog too :)
Lyliane,
J’avais les mots de la chanson sous la photo du pont… Et Avignon est vraiment magnifique! J’espère pouvoir visiter Madère dans votre blog, peut-être demain...
Isabella,
Rainy days in May and September: a bit troublesome for the slogan «300 hundred days of sun a year»!
Sorry I couldn’t visit next day, but I’ll try to go there and comment as soon as possible; may be tomorrow (it’s already a bit late tonight...).
Aditi,
Right, many more years than the 300 sunny...
Peter,
Great that I posted on a city so full of memories for you. That’s true that the Wall is magnificent; the problem is that by that time I carried always the video camera and had no bloggers eye yet; so, there was no picture of the wall, and thus no reference to it.
I’m still hesitating whether I should include the Demoiselles, even if the scene was painted in Paris, inspired on a brothel at carrer Avinyò (Avignon Street) in Barcelona...
Sorry, I’m not fulfilling my promise tonight to post something new...
Cuckoo,
Thanks!
Dsole,
That’s also one of my favourites. It was taken on a small street that links the Hotel the La Mirande to the Popes Palace Place, close to the street named after Jean Vilar, the French man of the theatre, who created the Avignon theatre festival in 1947!
Moi,
Interesting to read on the grey skies in Florida. ;))
The Compagnie des Comptoirs’ restaurant is located on the cloisters of a magnificent convent built in 1363 for the Benedictine nuns!
Lv2,
Gargoyles usually make some great pictures. They’re amazing!
The food at the Compagnie des Comptoirs was great!
Sorry, I couldn’t make your blog up today, but will try to get there and comment tomorrow!
Alice,
It’s true that it looks rather empty, but there is an explanation for that: As we were travelling around during the day, we landed at the restaurant a bit late for Avignon dinner time standards (around 21h30). So, when the two last photos were taken, after 23h30, we were the only guests in this dining room; there were, however, many people in a party on a large private room on the first floor, as well as many more at the Bar…
Niki,
Come on, French is not that difficult; just compare with Japanese… The problem might be that we have 23 official languages only within the 27 members of the European Union!
Domo Arigato Gozaimasu for your visit and comment!
Shionge,
Thanks. Love your busy blog!
I visited Avignon many many years ago and your photos bring back good memories. I feel like I've had another little trip!
I think la compagnie des comptoirs is another "branch" of the jardin des sens in Montpellier. I think we have a "compagnie des comptoirs" here too. I'll check.
I love Avignon. I have a funny photo in my mini photo gallery about Avignon : three muslim women in front of le palais des papes....I thought it was like pepper on ice-cream.
Lori,
Avignon is undoubtedly a nice place to visit...
Marie,
you're right. There is a Compagnie des Comptoirs in Montpellier! I'll check your Avignon picture...
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