Imechapishwa: 16.08.2023
Havignon Together,
as promised, here is an update on my visit to Avignon on Sunday. After arriving at the campsite in the middle of an island in Avignon and being pleasantly surprised by the consistently shady campsite, I set off by boat towards the city center or old town. From the island, there is a small ferry (max. 50 people) that takes you to the other side of the river every 15 minutes. One advantage of this is that you can see the old bridge Pont Sait-Benezet from the 12th century from the river. Unfortunately, it is no longer completely intact, but it is definitely an impressive structure.
From the docking point, I then went up the stairs to the garden area, from where you have a beautiful view of the old town and the other side of the river.
The campsite was located on this island among all the trees.
In the park, there was also an exhibition with old photos that were displayed and set up everywhere.
This picture caught my attention in particular!
On the way to the city center, you can see the church Notre Dame des Doms Avignon, where some old popes are supposedly buried. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any historical information signs, so you'll have to turn on your internet for further historical information.
From here, you can see the church square with some cafés and a few stands selling expensive delicacies.
I then made my way through the narrow streets and nice shops (most of which were closed) in the city center.
I thought it was very cool to fill old windows with art and thus constantly discover some eyecatchers in the city. I took a closer look at every building.
Once all the way through Avignon and a conclusion: A very charming city with a relatively small old town, but unfortunately (compared to my previous cities) there were quite a few homeless people on the main streets begging right next to the high-end luxury boutiques on the shopping street. So there is a visible gap between the rich and the poor.
After roaming through countless alleys, I made my way back. I was a bit hungry and so I treated myself to a snack from a small artisan shop in a side street:
Unfortunately, the market hall was closed, but even from the outside, the building is worth seeing!
Finally, my absolute favorite snapshot of this city. The Basilique Saint-Pierre from a different perspective with some greenery in the foreground. I also sat on a bench and tried to draw it. But I prefer whole views, as the sketch didn't turn out too well. I will continue to practice and fill my travel diary with sketches.
Yours, Britta