Whilst Pauline and I have visited Avignon several times, this was the first time for both Pauline's parents and the boys. Like true ciyites, the boys commented that this is the first 'real' place that they had been to where there were some decent shops. And being Christmas, we were happy to indulge them in some retail therapy, but not before a little 'culture'.

Having parked in the Isle de Piot cark park and taken the bus to the city walls as before, we took the short walk to the infamous incomplete Pont d'Avignon (aka Pont St. Benezet), where people dance in a circle. As mentioned in a previous edition, the bridge was first built in the 13th century and was commercially important as it helped control commerce along and across the Rhone river and the surrounding area. It was rebuilt several times until the 17th century as the current proved to strong for the structures and then they gave up.

Afterwards, we walked into city and entered the Palace of the Popes built in the 14th century to accomodate the residency of the Pope Clement V and eight subsequent popes (1310-1394), who extended the buildings and grounds during this period of the Avignonnaise pontiffs, The history is pretty complicated, but Clement V moved the papacy to Avignon, the city and surrounding regions were owned by the Church, because of a dispute with the then King of France, Philipe le Bel. In essence, Avignon, not Rome, became the centre of Christendom for the best part of a century and Avignon flourished as a consequence.

The edifice is immense, but in some respects is more impressive from the outside than the inside. The buildings are caverrnous with very high ceilings, but with featureless interiors apart from large fire places. The walls are mainly bare stone, apart some of the pontiffs rooms, which are colourfully painted and decorated. Otherwise, I imagine that there would have been immense carpets and tapestries to give the buildings some warmth.