Avignon, exploring the Pont Saint-Bénézet, a stunning medieval bridge spanning the Rhône River, followed by an inside tour of the Pope’s Palace

#avignon #pontsaintbenezet #rhoneriver #popespalace #rivieracruises

A  quick sketch of Avignon seen from the other side of the river

Having booked this river cruise several months ago, we weren't sure what to expect in this area of France. 
The first day was a walking tour of Avignon lead by a local guide (seen here in my sketch). Leaving the boat we walked along the river's edge to the famous Pont Saint-Benezet made famous by the song “Sur le pont d’Avignon” and after climbing a few steps we were soon walking along the remains of this bridge. After enjoying the views, the guide gathered a few of the group in a circle, holding hands, and gave a rendition of this song. Fortunately, I wasn't asked as my singing would have cleared the bridge.

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Moving on we made our way through the town to the Pope's Palace.  

The  Palace is made up of two buildings that together form the largest Gothic palace in the world. With turrets, towers, parapets and other fortifications, its exterior resembles a mighty fortress, while the interior is a tour de force of medieval architecture and ornamentation, adorned with priceless frescoes, Gobelin tapestries and graceful sculptures. The ceremonial hall, chapels, cloisters and private apartments are all unmissable. But to truly embrace the feel of papal Avignon, imagine yourself here during the Middle Ages amid the Palace’s rich furnishings and extravagant decoration, with cardinals, princes and ambassadors milling about its candle-lit halls and corridors, while in the streets below countless pilgrims eagerly anticipate benediction. This was Avignon’s brief golden age when it was truly the centre of Christendom.
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An interesting tour with the guide using 'whispers' to give us information about what we were seeing.

After the tour, we had a short time to see the town before making our way back to the ship. Unfortunately, the free time in the afternoon was cancelled as we had to leave the mooring at lunchtime, which was a shame, as the city streets had a wealth of interesting places to explore.
Never mind, we had several more places to visit as we sailed up the river.