Day 4: Avignon

Day 4 was an extra special day in Provence since we also happened to be celebrating Mike's birthday.  We decided we would spend his day seeing the Palais des Papes, enjoying an afternoon meal, and getting acquainted with the sophisticated city of Avignon.

 

 

 

Happy 33, Mike! 

The train from Marseille to Avignon was about 1-1/2 hours per way. 

 

 

 

 

 

View from the train station in Avignon

 

 

 

We attended a Gregorian Mass in this beautiful, ornate church.

 

 

 

 

Waiting for lunch

 

 

 

Double-decker carrousel

 

 

 

Of course, the boys found the top deck!

 

 

 

Riding high

 

 

 

 

 

Palais des Papes, residence of a one of the Popes during the

Great Schism during the years of 1378 and 1417 AD. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interior courtyard at the Palais des Papes

 

 

 

There is no original furniture left remaining at the Palais, so this is probably a replica. 

 

 

 

 This is the original church at the Palais (see the altar).   We walked through different parts of the palais (most rooms were empty aside from some displays showing weaponry or explaining origins of each room, etc.  We saw the kitchen, banquet rooms, pope's chambers, treasury areas, etc.   We couldn't take pictures in the pope's chambers since there are original frescoes on the walls. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Architect's model of the palais

 

 

 

Heading up to the rooftop 

 

 

 

 

Rooftop views out from the palais

 

 

 

 Looking down on the square below

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. Benezet Bridge

 

This bridge used to have 22 arches, but was destroyed by a seige during the 13th c.  Since then, it was rebuilt, but later more parts of it collapsed due to floods and ice.  It was originally constructed of wood.  Now only 4 arches remain.  It was envisioned by a young shepherd named Benezet who had a vision from God saying he should build a bridge in Avignon.  At first, the townspeople ridiculed him.   They began to believe him when he was challenged to do the impossible:  lift a huge stone into the water which he succeeded in doing. 

 

 

 

 

 

There is now a chapel dedicated to St. Benezet on the bridge

 

 

 

 Walking on the bridge and listening to the history

(Palais des Papes in the background)

 

 

 

 

Bridge and Palais des Papes 

 

 

 

 crenelation

 

 

 

 

 

This completes our tour of Provence.  We thoroughly enjoyed our day trips to Aix, Cassis, Arles and Avignon.  On our 5th day, we spent the morning walking around Marseille's port/promenade and then headed to the airport.   

 

Au Revoir, Provence!