Avignon
French Vatican City
General Information
Other Name: -, District: NA, State: Provence Alpes Azur, France
Area: 0 -
Languages Spoken: French
Long Distance Code: -
Importance: -
Best Time to Visit: May to September and -
International Access: -Description
An industrial city in southeastern France, Avignon is one of the three major cities of Provence (along with Arles and Marseille).Set on the Rhone River, the city is known for its contributions to the arts and was selected "European City of Culture" in 2000.Tourists can still visit the massive Palais des Popes, which resembles a medieval fortress-castle. The main activity in the city is found in the restaurants and shops lining the Place d`Horloge. Visitors should also check out Rocher des Doms Park and the Pont d`Avignon Bridge.Location
Avignon is situated on the left bank of the Rhône, a few miles above its confluence with the Durance, about 580 km south-south-east of Paris, 229 km south of Lyon and 85 km north-north-west of Marseille.Climate
Windy
This Romanesque-styled church dates back to the 12th century. Cathedrale Notre-Dame des Doms features an impressive gilded statue of the Mary on its tower and also houses the tombs of Pope Benedict XII and Pope John XXII. The church is located to the north of the Palais des Papes.
From Fort St-André with its two mighty round towers, built in the second half of the 14th C by John the Good and Charles V, there is a magnificent view of Villeneuve, Avignon, Mont Ventoux and the Lubéron and Alpilles mountain ranges. The massive walls enclose the little town of St-Andre, a Benedictine monastery and the Romanesque Church of Notre- Dame-de-Belvezet.
The Musée Lapidaire (lapidarium) in Avignon can be found at rue de la République 27, in the Baroque former Jesuit Church, joined by a bridge to the Jesuit college - now a secondary school - which was founded in 1564. The exhibits include Roman mosaics, fragments of the former triumphal arch, reliefs and ancient sculptures.
The star attraction of Avignon is the Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes), a vast castle of significant historic, religious and architectural importance. It is one of the largest and most important medieval Gothic buildings in Europe.
The bridge to St Béneezet (Provençal for Benedict) in Avignon is well-known because of the following legend attributed to it: it is said that in the year 1177 the shepherd Bénézet was instructed by the angels to build a bridge over the Rhône. The town fathers and citizens both mocked the idea, but he was given the strength to raise a giant lump of rock, which they then recognized as being a sign from God, further evidenced by the fact that the bridge was built in only eight years.
The synagogue is neo-classical in style, consisting of a simple rotunda covered with a cupola.