Avignon was eastabilished a long time ago but got really rep when the Pope set up shop here in the 1400’s. Apparently he was having a bit of time with the locals in Rome so got out of town for a few centuries. He (they) set up on a rock by the river and made a fort, a town then a city. Trade was good but a shepherd named Benezet got a call from God to walk down to the river at Avignon and build a bridge. Now the city officials along with the Pope had a rigorous planning regime and didn’t take kindly to this upstart trying something new. Does this sound like any current councils? Anyway he did this announcement in the crowded square so the “mayor” said okee dokee you want the bridge so bad take that big building block that the builders leftover because it was so big and put on the river bank as the first stone. So he did and that got him Saint status …… and le Pont d’Avignon. The bridge links the city with the huge island in the river so people could go over there to party and dance. The song came way, way later in the 1800’s. The Rhone River is mighty ‘mighty’ and it kept washing bits away. (By the way hearing this in the audio guide, while standing on the part of the bridge left, is a bit disconcerting) Anyway the original stone piers and wooden bridge became, over the year,s a stone bridge with a chapel to St. Benezet and one for the St. Nicholas. They are a good match here. Benezet is patron of architects and Nicholas the patron of mariners.
Lots of waking in narrow streets on cobblestones and people watching. Lunch in little café recommended by the Host, le Café Grand and it was. Way back in the part behind le Palais du Pape. Great food no English spoken and we got what we expected off the menu. There were table plaques noting who the luminaries were that liked that table. Very cool! It really did look like Gerard Depardeau would walk in.
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