In the footsteps of the Romans, Day 16, 7/18/18

Papal Palace

Pianist in the streets of Avignon

Papal palace

Avignon wall

St Benezet Bridge (built in 1185)

Diver at Pont du Gard

Amanda and Harry at Pont du Gard

Escargot (Harry and Jerry's)

We rode this train around Avignon

Roman aqueduct constructed in 30 BC

Before I talk about today's activities, I told you our villa was old.  It was built  in the 15th century and the original purpose was as a caretaker cottage or sheep barn.  It has been modified, and added on to what it is today.  It is now a two bedroom cottage.  Each bedroom has its own bathroom with a sitting area.It has a living room with a flat screen  TV and a well equipped modern kitchen.  There is a very nice outdoor terrace on the 2nd level.  The TV is nice, but we only get French channels...  no Fox News or BBC.  So we are off the information highway.  This is not all bad.
Today we visited Avignon.  Avignon's beginnings began much like all the other villages around here.  It began early.  The two biggest events that shaped Avignon were the Romans and the Popes.  There is quite a bit of evidence of the Roman occupation, and the centerpiece of the city is the Papal Palace. Seven successive popes lived here from 1309 to 1377.  It remained under papal control until 1791 when it became a part of France.  During the 17th century a massive wall was built around the city.  This was the largest construction project in France during the 17th century.  Avignon hosts the annual  Festival d'Avignon.  About 12,000 people live within the medieval town center.  About 4,000,000 people visit Avignon each year to visit the Palais des Papes and the festival,  The festival is going on now.  We rode a small train around the inner city in order to learn about Avignon.  In the city center square there are remnants of the Roman Forum.  However, these relics are buried beneath the square.  We walked where the Romans walked and had lunch in the square.  Afterwards we drove to Pont du Gard.  The Pont du Gard is an ancient Roman aquaduct built in 30 BC to provide water for the Roman village of Nimes. This aquaduct was in use through the 6th century.  It fell into disuse after the fall  of  the Roman Empire.  It became clogged with debris and through a general lack of maintenance, water failed to flow.  I don't know where the people of Nimes got their water after the aquaduct ceased to operate.
While we were there we ran into a gentleman from Alabama.  His name was Cecil Ponder and he lived in Decatur.  I told him we were from Wetumpka and Prattville.  He asked me if I knew his cousin, Jimmy Melton.  I told him we did, that Jimmy lived up the street from us, and that we used to work with Jimmy's father.  He said you must be Alabama State Troopers.  Small world.  Back to the aquaduct.  A fantastic feat of engineering.  This was one of over 1,000 aquaducts the Romans had built.  Today the Nimes Aquaduct is one of France's most popular tourist attractions.