Avignon - another French wonder, part 1 - the introduction
Today is the first report about another very famous French town - Avignon. As for the first part introduction as usual:
Avignon is another very famous town in the south of France. Once it was very important center and it is not so unlikely that if the fate was only slightly different today Avignon could be in a row of such cities as Rome, Madrid, Vienna, Brussels, etc.
For nearly 100 hundred years the Avignon was the center of Western Christianity and during this period Avignon left deep impact in our history too: the most intense period of diplomatic and military battles between Teutonic Order and Grand Duchy of Lithuania was when Popes resided in Avignon. The famous letters of Gediminas from 1323 marking the establishment of Vilnius were addressed to Avignon but not to Rome. Most of the diplomatic correspondence concerning the christening of Lithuania was addressed to Avignon but not to Rome. These facts are nearly completely unnoticed by the ordinary people here these days (some time ago I specially asked the group of young people (all of them are well educated but they aren't historians) to which city were sent letters of Gediminas of 1323 and the answer was "to Rome of course" :))) Even when Popes returned back to Rome for another 50 years Avignon still battled for the seat of St.Peters crown - in Avignon still resided so-called Anti-Popes )in fact nominees of the King of France). Later history of Avignon wasn't so rich but the life here was always significant: in Avignon the Lois XIVth finally reached the elusive goal of all French kings - creation of the centralized Kingdom of France - since Avignon and the area was the last still resisting point to their goals.
All these events caused that today old town Avignon and nearby Villeneuve-de-Avignon possess highest density of medieval monuments per sq.km in the world.
Modern Avignon has less than 100 000 residents but it's past distinguishes it even from the historical towns of France. "Avignon, Avignon" once sang famous French singer of second part of XXth century Mireille Mathieu (Avignon is here native town). And tha't true - Avignon is phenomena.
First of all - map of Avignon:
Nearly circular area in the center is the old town of Avignon. This part we explored very well while other parts of this town left nearly completely unknown to me.
For today we will go only this way - from train station right to the Palais des Papes:
Train station - very modest and very similar to other trains stations in this region of France:
Now let us turn to the other side and here we will see the first surprise in Avignon - town wall. Avignon has one of the best preserved town walls in Europe; in principle here town wall was left intact:
The older wall was destroyed in 1226 when Avignon capitulated to the king of France Lois VIII who prohibited the construction of walls but in 1234-1237 residents built new walls. Later the walls were rebuilt, enforced etc. Today still about 4330 meters of city walls remains. In various places they are different - this is probably least impressive part of the wall:
No let's go in to the area of medieval Avignon - first views:
Rue de la Republique - is the street going right from the train station to the heart of old town:
And just on the other side of this street is first medieval monument in this city - Temple Saint Martial (1346-1362):
Now temple isn't used for the religious services - this is concert hall. Near the temple is small but nice park with a lot's of exotic southern flora:
Part of specially preserved ruins near the temple:
The view very common in Avignon:))
Let's return back to Rue de la Republique. The less than 100 thousand residents in Avignon isn't impressive number but this city really has what is called "big city feeling":
Another former church on this street. This time - monument of baroque:
Inside this church is small art museum - you could visit it free of charge:
Houses near Rue de la Republique - "big city feeling":
:
And what is here ?
Here is Town hall of Avignon:
Mosaic on the street in fron of the town hall:
Near the town is the main theater of Avignon. Avignon is the town of theaters - the number of such institutions here is simply difficult to count (we found at least 20 probably :)) And Avignon theater festival is probably the biggest theater festival in Europe. But most of the theaters are situated in simple houses (you see ordinary building but also see table - "theatre" :)).
But city theater isn't modest - heavy decorations tries to impress you and say that you are in the city of theaters:
To be continued ...
Avignon is another very famous town in the south of France. Once it was very important center and it is not so unlikely that if the fate was only slightly different today Avignon could be in a row of such cities as Rome, Madrid, Vienna, Brussels, etc.
For nearly 100 hundred years the Avignon was the center of Western Christianity and during this period Avignon left deep impact in our history too: the most intense period of diplomatic and military battles between Teutonic Order and Grand Duchy of Lithuania was when Popes resided in Avignon. The famous letters of Gediminas from 1323 marking the establishment of Vilnius were addressed to Avignon but not to Rome. Most of the diplomatic correspondence concerning the christening of Lithuania was addressed to Avignon but not to Rome. These facts are nearly completely unnoticed by the ordinary people here these days (some time ago I specially asked the group of young people (all of them are well educated but they aren't historians) to which city were sent letters of Gediminas of 1323 and the answer was "to Rome of course" :))) Even when Popes returned back to Rome for another 50 years Avignon still battled for the seat of St.Peters crown - in Avignon still resided so-called Anti-Popes )in fact nominees of the King of France). Later history of Avignon wasn't so rich but the life here was always significant: in Avignon the Lois XIVth finally reached the elusive goal of all French kings - creation of the centralized Kingdom of France - since Avignon and the area was the last still resisting point to their goals.
All these events caused that today old town Avignon and nearby Villeneuve-de-Avignon possess highest density of medieval monuments per sq.km in the world.
Modern Avignon has less than 100 000 residents but it's past distinguishes it even from the historical towns of France. "Avignon, Avignon" once sang famous French singer of second part of XXth century Mireille Mathieu (Avignon is here native town). And tha't true - Avignon is phenomena.
First of all - map of Avignon:
Nearly circular area in the center is the old town of Avignon. This part we explored very well while other parts of this town left nearly completely unknown to me.
For today we will go only this way - from train station right to the Palais des Papes:
Train station - very modest and very similar to other trains stations in this region of France:
Now let us turn to the other side and here we will see the first surprise in Avignon - town wall. Avignon has one of the best preserved town walls in Europe; in principle here town wall was left intact:
The older wall was destroyed in 1226 when Avignon capitulated to the king of France Lois VIII who prohibited the construction of walls but in 1234-1237 residents built new walls. Later the walls were rebuilt, enforced etc. Today still about 4330 meters of city walls remains. In various places they are different - this is probably least impressive part of the wall:
No let's go in to the area of medieval Avignon - first views:
Rue de la Republique - is the street going right from the train station to the heart of old town:
And just on the other side of this street is first medieval monument in this city - Temple Saint Martial (1346-1362):
Now temple isn't used for the religious services - this is concert hall. Near the temple is small but nice park with a lot's of exotic southern flora:
Part of specially preserved ruins near the temple:
The view very common in Avignon:))
Let's return back to Rue de la Republique. The less than 100 thousand residents in Avignon isn't impressive number but this city really has what is called "big city feeling":
Another former church on this street. This time - monument of baroque:
Inside this church is small art museum - you could visit it free of charge:
Houses near Rue de la Republique - "big city feeling":
:
And what is here ?
Here is Town hall of Avignon:
Mosaic on the street in fron of the town hall:
Near the town is the main theater of Avignon. Avignon is the town of theaters - the number of such institutions here is simply difficult to count (we found at least 20 probably :)) And Avignon theater festival is probably the biggest theater festival in Europe. But most of the theaters are situated in simple houses (you see ordinary building but also see table - "theatre" :)).
But city theater isn't modest - heavy decorations tries to impress you and say that you are in the city of theaters:
To be continued ...