Avignon is the city to which the Popes fled when leaving the corruption of Rome in the 14th century. The palace they built, 'Le Palais des Papes', or the palace of popes, is the world´s largest gothic building. It was largely emptied and destroyed partially over the centuries, and its vast stone rooms are filled with little more than old frescos, but it is still an imposing building. The Ramparts themselves were erected to keep the plague and invaders out during the turbulent middle ages, when Avignon belonged to the papacy and not the French crown.
Its early history is much older than the popes, however. Avignon occupies a strategic location for several reasons - it is at the confluence of two once-mighty rivers: the Rhône, still one of the biggest rivers in France, and the now largely-dammed Durance. Both were important routes of trade and communication even in prehistoric times. In addition, there is a long island in the Rhone that made it possible to ferry people and goods across, and later bridge the river, more easily than in other places.
It is estimated that about 200,000 people live in Avignon, 16,000 of which live 'intra-muros,' or within the ramparts built in the 14th century.
The city is now sprinkled with buildings and monuments ranging from the new to the old, the very old, and the ageless.
Le pont d´Avignon
Le mont ventoux from le rocher des Doms, para los amantes alpinos este es el inicio de la más impresionante cadena montañosa de Europa.
Notre dame cathedrale.
El Palacio de los Papas, entrada principal.
El Petit Palais, en la misma plaza.
Un espontáneo...jejeje, en la Torre de Felipe el hermoso con Avignon y las Alpillas de fondo.
El famoso Pont d´Avignon.
Interior del Palacio de los Papas, zona de servicios.
Para que te quede claro donde te encuentras.
El Pequeño Palacio desde el torreón del Palacio Papal.
Entrada de la catedral de Notre Dame.
Vista panorámica de Avignon, destacan la famosa Torre del reloj y el Ródano al fondo.
Un cielo de postal.
La plaza del palacio de los Papas, al fondo a la izquierda la torre de Felipe el hermoso y a la derecha la fortaleza de Villeneuve-lez-avignon.
El rocher des Doms y el puente de St. Benezet.
Abadía de St.Andrés.
Fortaleza de St.Andrés, entrada principal.
Imponentes vistas de la muralla y entrada principal.
Como no podía ser de otra forma no puedes pasar por esta zona sin degustar los excelentes caldos de Chateaneuf du Pape.
Aunque en realidad, queda poco del castillo.
