Avignon and Pont du Gard

Sunday, July 14. Avignon & Pont du Gard.

As we had been to Avignon and the Palais des Papes some years ago, we elected to walk around the town on our own. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palais_des_Papes. Here are pictures of the interior:

https://www.pinterest.com/visitdd/palace-of-the-popes-avignon-france/ Avignon was the place where from 1309 to 1376 seven Popes resided instead of Rome. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avignon_Papacy During that time there were also those who sought to form a movement apart from the Papacy who are referred to as antipopes.

July is the month for Festival in Avignon. https://www.france-voyage.com/events/avignon-festival-34.htm We were caught up in the general excitement of the multitude of young people and vendors.

Evening arrival

View of Rhône and Avignon from palace gardens. Emerald to left of Ferris Wheel

Vendors during festival; Papal Palace and Cathedral

One entrance to palace

Apse of Avignon Cathedral

Avignon market

Wine négociante

Spices of Provence

Bread price list

Fish Vendor

Cheese Vendor

Lunch was back on board, a quick nap, then off in the heat to Pont du Gard. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pont_du_Gard This well preserved aqueduct was built in the first Century AD to carry water 31 circuitous miles to Nimes, dropping only 41 feet over the entire span. We learned how the flow was maintained by removing the deposits along the sides of the channel where evaporation and slow flow resulted in the deposition of minerals. When maintenance lapsed, water flow tapered, finally stopped and the aqueduct soon was abandoned. It was added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1985. We took our family Christmas picture with the aqueduct in the background. Happily, refreshments were provided at this stop to rehydrate the group.