Greetings from Avignon, France, where many of us Penn State travelers are wishing we had paid a little more attention in high-school French class. My entire French vocabulary consists of “bonjour,” “merci,” and “crème brulée.” That might not be quite enough to get me through the next 10 days.
We’re just beginning an Alumni Association-sponsored tour of southern France—the first half in Provence and the second half along the French Riviera, also known as the Côte d’Azur. Our home for the first half is Avignon, where our hotel is tucked just inside the walls of the “old city.” One of Avignon’s claims to fame is that, during the 14th century, it was the capital of Christianity. That’s when the Vatican moved its base of operations to Avignon and a series of seven popes ruled the church from the “Palais des Papes,” a massive palace just 50 yards or so from our hotel. We’ll visit that later today, so I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.
Also just a short walk from our hotel is the famous 13th-century bridge Pont d’Avignon, sometimes called Pont St-Benezet. It spans—or used to span—the Rhône River. I say “used to” because floods have damaged the bridge over the years, and now the bridge goes only partway across the water. Luckily it was abandoned in the 17th century, or else that drop-off could be quite a surprise to an unsuspecting motorist.
The bridge is the subject of a nursery rhyme that is famous the world over:
Sur le pont d'Avignon
On y danse, on y danse
Sur le pont d'Avignon
On y danse tout en rond.
I mentioned that we’re in the old city. There is a lengthy stone wall that encloses that part of Avignon, and it has several stone arches that serve as gates into it. It sounds quaint, and it is, but in reality cars and buses can drive into the old city through the arches, and inside, it’s a mix of old and new, with stone buildings from medieval times sharing space with cafés, department stores, souvenir shops, even a McDonald’s.
Next on the agenda for us: a talk by our local guide on the popes of Avignon, a visit to the Palace of the Popes, and a lunch cruise on the Rhône River.
We’re just beginning an Alumni Association-sponsored tour of southern France—the first half in Provence and the second half along the French Riviera, also known as the Côte d’Azur. Our home for the first half is Avignon, where our hotel is tucked just inside the walls of the “old city.” One of Avignon’s claims to fame is that, during the 14th century, it was the capital of Christianity. That’s when the Vatican moved its base of operations to Avignon and a series of seven popes ruled the church from the “Palais des Papes,” a massive palace just 50 yards or so from our hotel. We’ll visit that later today, so I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.
Also just a short walk from our hotel is the famous 13th-century bridge Pont d’Avignon, sometimes called Pont St-Benezet. It spans—or used to span—the Rhône River. I say “used to” because floods have damaged the bridge over the years, and now the bridge goes only partway across the water. Luckily it was abandoned in the 17th century, or else that drop-off could be quite a surprise to an unsuspecting motorist.
The bridge is the subject of a nursery rhyme that is famous the world over:
Sur le pont d'Avignon
On y danse, on y danse
Sur le pont d'Avignon
On y danse tout en rond.
I mentioned that we’re in the old city. There is a lengthy stone wall that encloses that part of Avignon, and it has several stone arches that serve as gates into it. It sounds quaint, and it is, but in reality cars and buses can drive into the old city through the arches, and inside, it’s a mix of old and new, with stone buildings from medieval times sharing space with cafés, department stores, souvenir shops, even a McDonald’s.
Next on the agenda for us: a talk by our local guide on the popes of Avignon, a visit to the Palace of the Popes, and a lunch cruise on the Rhône River.
Photos
Nice-looking bridge, huh? Except there’s a little problem with it. See the next photo!
This is the famed Pont d’Avignon bridge—or what’s left of it. Originally built in the 12th century, destroyed during one of the Crusades in the 13th century, rebuilt, and then heavily damaged by floods in the 17th century. It’s on the Rhône River in Avignon, France. The structure on the right-hand side is a chapel.
One of the many charismatic old buildings in Avignon, this building is still an active theatre.
The Provence region is famous for its fragrances. Later in the trip we’ll visit Grasse, a major site in the perfume industry. Most likely we’ll have plenty of opportunities to buy soaps like these.
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