Avignon

Avignon is a city in the Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southern France, and the capital of the Vaucluse department. Situated on the left bank of the Rhône around 85 kilometres to the north of Marseille, Avignon can look back on a changeable and volatile history. The city flourished under the Romans, but few remnants of their influence have survived to this day. From the 5th to the 13th century, Avignon was a pawn in the hands of the powerful ranging from the Goths and the Saracens to the Roman Catholic popes. In the 13th century, the Black Death wiped out two thirds of the city's population. Avignon is probably best known historically as a seat of several 14th to 15th century popes and antipopes during the Western Schism, a period that is reflected in its architectural heritage. The Palais des Papes (Papal Palace), and the Notre Dame des Doms cathedral are two outstanding examples of ecclesiastical buildings from the era. The historic centre of Avignon is a UNESCO World Heritage, which includes the Pont d'Avignon, the bridge immortalised in the French song 'Sur le pont d'Avignon'. The city is home to a prestigious annual theatre festival, with events staged against the backdrop of the old town's historic monuments.