The name
Avignon comes from "Avenio" which means "town of violent winds" or
"town of the river". Avignon was a major Roman town until about the 5th century.
It was badly damaged by the barbarian invasions of the 5th century. Avignon passed
successively to the kingdom of the Burgundians and the Kingdom of Arles. At the end of the
12th century, Avignon declared itself an independent republic, but in 1226 when the city
supported the Cathars its fortification were demolished. Avignon was given to the counts
of Provence and then the counts of Toulouse.
Avignon
became the residence of the Pope in 1309. Between 1309 and 1377, seven successive popes
reside in Avignon (Clement V, John XXXII, Benedict XII, Clement VI, Innocent VI, Urban V
and Gregory XI). The Palais des Papes is begun in 1335. The population swells to 40,000,
making Avignon one of Europe’s largest cities but, due to the plague and the
departure of the pope, the population falls to some 15,000. Avignon remained a papal
possession until 1791.
The city of Avignon, is a beautiful fortified city.
Avignon's architecture is marked by Papal history. The Palace of the Popes built in the
14th century it's the main attraction. Nearby are the museums, the Petit Palais and Palais
du Roure, not too far away stands the famous Pont d'Avignon.
The Palais des Papes, Avignon. It was
built in two principal phases with two distinct segments, known as the Palais Vieux
(Old Palace) and Palais Neuf (New Palace). The Palais Vieux was constructed by the
architect Pierre Poisson of Mirepoix, its construction was ordered by Pope Benedict XII.
The Palais des Papes, Avignon.
The Pont d'Avignon (Pont St-Bénezet). It's
a medieval bridge that was built between 1171 and 1185. The bridge was put out of use by a
catastrophic flood in 1668, only four of the initial 22 arches remain intact today.
