Fun things to do in Avignon

The Parc Agricol Perdiguier is a raised garden which can be found in the Botanical Gardens. It is set among the ruins of an ancient gothic church. This provides an excellent phto opportunity and I found it to be a wonderfully colourful contrast to the starkness of such historical constructions such as the Palace of the Popes and the famous St Benezet Bridge.

A truly peaceful spot in an otherwise bustling city.

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This tower is named after Nicolas le Besse, nephew of Clement VI, who at some point in his ecclesiastical career became known as Jean le Vieux. His mother died during the Black Plague and is buried in a chapel in the palace of the Popes.

The tower is situated in a lovely square with cafes all around for people wanting to sit and watch the world go by.

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From Avignon you can do more than one trip in a day,if you just like to stroll round a place and sightsee. A car would be fine, but on one day i went from Avignon by train [ 08-16 ] to Arles journey time 22 minutes. After seeing the old centre of Arles arena etc, i took the bus to Nimes journey time one hour fare was a few euros.The bus in Arles leaves from the bus station in front of the rail station bus times are on screen in the RAIL stationAfter seeing Nimes i returned to Avignon early evening by train , journey time one hour. The coat of Arms of Nimes features a crocodile chained to a palm tree, this emblem is everywhere, in studs in pavement and on the safety poles on the side of roads.In my picture of the amphitheatre the little poles each has the emblem.

Although Le Mont Ventoux was interesting due to its association with the Tour de France the the unfortunate death of the British cyclist Tom Simpson - it was somewhat bleak up there - and a very strange landscape - devoid of all vegetation. For me on this day i think it was important that people were passing me - it woudl have been a strange experience beign up there alone.

However on the 3rd or 4th day - i cycled (no bus this time_ from Avignon to Gordes and back - and this trip really did live uo to expectations after reading about it in my Cicerone Guide (the little Brown Books to cycling and walking) - and seeing the beautiful pictures - but to actually cycle the Limestone Gorges on this tour was extremely breathtaking - you are instantly away how very tiny England is and our Limestone Escarpments are nothing to this - it was just "Wow" etc round every corner - the best was when i climbed out of Gordes - nothing prepared me for this - and on this day it was very special to be alone - Le. Mont Ventoux has been likened to the moon - but here wildlife is in abundance - huge birds soaring in the sky, sounds of nature everywhere.

So initially the travel to Gordes was a very very long "slog" (felt so long and hard - some distance) and i passed through a very beautiful village L'sle-sur-la-Sourge.
The first time i turned the corner and saw Gordes i was godsmacked - i have never seen anything so grand in my life before - and wondered if it was real.

I am not sure why but i have no Pictures of Gordes - maybe my battery was flat. Pity i could not have stayed here - i could easily have spent several hours here - but it was late in the day and i had to start heading (one of the disadvantages of cycle touring sometimes).
At another time though i guess i come back and tour with tents and luggage and camp nearby here one night.

A very Special Place indeed.
Do not get my wrong - L'Isle-sur-la-Sourge was a very nice too - and lots of Cafes and Restaurants by the canal - i stopped for lunch here.
I am sure Gordes is a World Heritage Site - and protected.
This and the Limestone Gorges around was the highlight of my tour - the longest day - and i thoroughly enjoyed this day - and demolished a Huge Pizza with Eggs on in Avignon when returned and as i began to eat it became night.

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The Musee in the Petit Palais contains a few significant paintings that show how the progress of 15C work is expanding the presentation of reality. The Siennese and early Florentine painters are sources that we seldom get to study

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This splendid palace was built in 1317 for Cardinal Arnaud de Via, nephew of Pope John XXII. It was redecorated in the late 15C. It has had many famous short time residents staying here. Ultimately it was sold to the locality and houses, most importantly, an Art Museum with an extensive accumulation of 13-15C paintings collected in the 19C and carefully placed here by Napoleon III. Among them are a small number of splendid works. Most of the works are early Siennese and Florentine, many more of these than any other place we have ever seen except in Siena.

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The walls were constructed by Pope Innocent VI between 1.355 and 1.368. With a length of 4,8 kms., there are eight gates. One of them is Porte (Gate) du Rhône or du Rocher; from the 14th century, it was demolished in 1.760 to be reconstructed in 1.761. It is in front of Pont St-Bénézet (main pic). Other gates: Porte de la République (second pic) and Porte St. Charles (third pic)

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The Place de l'Horloge is the very centre of Avignon life. On its west side the Theater and the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) built in 1.845) incorporating a 14th century clock-tower.

Pics:
- Main: City Hall
- Second: Theatre
- Third: Clock Tower