Avignon

Remember that song they taught in French class? "Sur le pont d'Avignon, on y danse on y danse..." Well, this is THAT pont (pont means bridge). It was built between 1171 and 1185, and it used to be a full 22 arches across the Rhône River, but these 4 arches are all that exists now.

The new version (1876- so new) of the song made a mistake in saying sur le pont (on the bridge), because people would actually gather sous le pont (under the bridge). If you look across the river in the photo below, that grassy area is part of an island the bridge crossed over (there's more river behind that). So that is where they would dance, or so I am told.

So here you can see what Avignon was like in 1635, on the top left you see the bridge across the Rhône and note how little is left from the original. Ancient France really liked building walls around their cities. Unlike Nîmes, much of this rampart is still standing, which is really interesting to see now.

HISTORICAL FACT: In the 14th century, the poet Petrarch described Avignon as the "most foul and stinking city on Earth." I was incredibly sick on this particular day, but I didn't want to miss out so I went anyway. Once I heard about this quote, I perked up. Though my stomach troubles were unpleasant, they were at least metaphorical and historically relevant.

Here's a view.

 Heading into the Palais des Papes (The Popes' Palace). This was the residence of the Popes from 1309 to 1377, when there was too much violence and chaos in Rome. These years are called called "the Avignon Papacy." Popes Clement V, Benedict XII, Clement VI, InnocentVI, and Urban V all lived here during their time as Pope.

(Hogwarts?!)

"Will Juliana be sick in my old house? (shake shake shake) Signs point to yes!"

(ugh, I was so embarrassed. )

Then we went to a vineyard to see the wine-making process.

That's a good donkey.

These are all full of fermenting wines.

 It was pretty.