We began our day with a delicious breakfast of eggs, toast and fresh fruit prepared by Hilary in our VRBO designer kitchen. Nice to eat “at home.”
Then off we went to visit the Palais des Papas, aka Palace of the Popes. This was built in the 14th Century when Pope Clement V broke with Rome.
Seven French Popes lived here, each adding their own designer touches from the austere to the very opulent. It truly does show the power the Popes wielded as they passed judgement and sentenced the powerful to the poor for their “crimes.”
What was most remarkable was the tour technology. We were given tablet “histopads” that prvided a virtual reality experience that provided a map of where we were but also what the rooms looked like during the 14th Century. This made the tour much more realistic.
It takes one back in time ...
...shows you what the room looked like ...
...and this is what it looks like today. Amazing!
The Church, headed by the current pope certainly collected more than their fair share of “tributes” and payments in the form of gold and other treasures, enough to fill a large room.
As we toured the rooms, was amazing to see how much of the color was still left in tiles, on walls and the ceilings of a few of them. All placed there in the 1300’s. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take photos in any of these rooms. However, I did get a portion of the ceiling in the grand hall that had been recently renovated as well as a few photos of reproduction tiles that are for sale in the gift shop.
Gift shop tiles
Actual tiles from the 1300’s
Also for sale is some “papal” wine that by all reviews is supposed to be quite good.
After the tour of the palace we continued on to the Avignon Bridge. The bridge's construction was inspired by Saint Bénézet a shepherd boy, who (according to legend) while tending his flock heard the voice of Jesus Christ asking him to build a bridge across the river. Although he was ridiculed at first, he dramatically "proved" his divine inspiration and gained support by miraculously lifting a huge block of stone and tossing it into the river.
The bridge had great strategic importance as when first built it was the only fixed river crossing between Lyon and the Mediterranean Sea. Several times sections of the bridge have collapsed due to flooding. This is the last standing portion.
The bridge has achieved worldwide fame through its commemoration by the song “Sur Le Pont d’Avignon” ("On the Bridge of Avignon")
The bridge was the inspiration for this song and it is considered a landmark of the city. In 1995, the surviving arches of the bridge, together with the Palais des Papes and Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Dom’s were classified as a World Heritage site.
WALKING AROUND BEAUTIFUL AVIGNON - Here are just a few of my favorite pictures I took just walking around.
LUNCH - And Yet Another Carousel!
Jet lag finally caught up with me and I crashed early and expect to feel better tomorrow!
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