10-14: Today is our last full day here in Avignon. We did sleep in and do some laundry. We ate lunch at the apartment and then we headed out for the day. We started out by visiting the Pont d’Avignon. We walked all along the remaining bridge and Stuart walked along part of the city wall as well. More about the bridge is outlined below. After we did the bridge, we walked back into the center of town. Yes, I could not resist purchasing a couple more tea towels. I really cannot tell you where we walked and what we saw but before we knew it, the sun was going down! We aren’t too hungry but we did stop along the way and had wine and a cheese and meat platter before heading back. It was a very full day. 10K steps for the day is really a lot for me with my mobility issues. It was a great day!
The Pont d'Avignon, officially known as the Pont Saint-Bénézet, is a medieval bridge built between 1177 and 1185 to cross the Rhône River in France. History and Facts:
• The Legend: According to local tradition, a young shepherd named Bénézet arrived in Avignon in 1177 and claimed that angels told him to build a bridge across the river.
• Original
Construction: The bridge originally spanned about 900 to 920 meters, featured
22 stone arches, and was roughly 4 meters wide.
• Strategic
Role: It served as a vital border crossing and toll station between the Papal
states/Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdom of France, boosting local trade and
pilgrimage traffic.
• Destruction
by Floods: The powerful Rhône River frequently flooded, repeatedly destroying
or damaging the stone arches. After a devastating flood in 1660 destroyed a
large portion, the city abandoned efforts to rebuild it.
• Current
Status: Only 4 of the original 22 arches remain standing today. It was
designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
• The Famous Song: The bridge gained worldwide fame through the traditional French children’s song "Sur le pont d'Avignon".
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