Avignon

Most people visit Avignon to see the Palace of the Popes. From 1273 onwards, the popes fled Rome because they could no longer be safe, free, and independent there, or so they could keep their positions and wealth in France - depending on who you read. In 1309, Clement V settled in Avignon, a papal land. This city then became independent from France.

Clement V was the first pope to settle in this city, which is home to 5,000 souls, making it an important city in the Middle Ages. After the death of the pope, the bishop of the city was elected and took up the torch. John XXII decided to settle in the episcopal palace he had long occupied, located in a district of the city that was easy to defend. The place became the current site of the Palais des Papes.

After the death of John XXII, Benedict XII was crowned Pope in 1335. He judged the Bishop’s Palace of his predecessor too small and decided to demolish it in order to build a new palace designed by the architect Pierre Obreri. The site is huge and has been amended may times over the years.

We had dinner at an Irish pub on the first night - as you do, and on the second night we did a food tour in the old town.Read more