30.10.–1.11.2025, Avignon

Le pont Saint-Bénézet, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pont_Saint-B%C3%A9n%C3%A9zet: … a medieval bridge across the Rhône … UNESCO World Heritage Site … An early wooden bridge …was built between 1177 and 1185 … destroyed in 1226 during the Albigensian Crusade … Beginning in 1234 the bridge was rebuilt with 22 stone arches … about 900 m … in length and only 4.9 m … in width … abandoned in the mid-17th century as the arches tended to collapse each time the Rhône flooded … Four arches and the gatehouse … have survived. The Chapel of Saint Nicholas which sits on the second pier … was constructed in the second half of 12th century but has since been substantially altered … The western terminus, the Tour Philippe-le-Bel, is also preserved …

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Palais des Papes, incl.

• The gardens of the Palace of the Popes, https://palais-des-papes.com/en/les-jardins-du-palais-des-papes/: … The Jardin du Pape and the Jardin du Palais join the Orchard Urbain V … to complete the triptych of the Gardens of the Palais des Papes
• Collection de carreaux de Châteauneuf-du-Pape, XIVe siècle
• live beehive.

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City wall and misc.:

• Walls of Avignon, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walls_of_Avignon: … Les Remparts d’Avignon … a series of defensive stone walls that surround the city … built in the 14th century during the Avignon papacy … continually rebuilt and repaired throughout their subsequent history … now around 25 entrances through the city walls. Of these, ten are restricted to pedestrians …
• Les Halles, http://www.avignon-leshalles.com/: … la ville d’Avignon s’est engagée en 2006 dans un projet audacieux: installer un mur végétal aux halles. La végétalisation de sa façade nord (30m x 11,50m) … Le mur végétal, soumis à un régime d’irrigation sophistiqué, est actuellement composé de 20 végétaux par mètre carré.

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UNESCO: Historic Centre of Avignon: Papal Palace, Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge, https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/228: In the 14th century, this city … was the seat of the papacy. The Palais des Papes, an austere-looking fortress …, dominates the city, the surrounding ramparts and the remains of a 12th-century bridge over the Rhone. Beneath this outstanding example of Gothic architecture, the Petit Palais and the Romanesque Cathedral of Notre-Dame-des-Doms complete an exceptional group of monuments that testify to the leading role played by Avignon in 14th-century Christian Europe.

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Cf.: 13.9.-1.10.2024, Tour de Mémoire near Mediterranean coasts, incl. Trieste, Venezia, Sanary-sur-Mer, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Mt. Ventoux, incl. earlier visits to France