May 2019 - French Riviera to Carcassonne
DAY 8, Wednesday - Avignon, Pont du Gard, Carcassonne
LUGGAGE OUT - 7 AM
DEPART - 9 AM
This morning journey on to Avignon, the "City of Popes" named after seven popes who reigned there during the 1300s.
Admire the Place de l'Horlorge, the city's main square and the vast Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes), a fortress-like palace that once served as the papal residence.
The Place de l'Horloge (Clock Tower Square) is the main square and heart of Avignon. Buildings located on the square include Avignon's 19th century city hall and opera. Ironically, the famous clock, after which the square is named, is barely visible from Place de l'Horloge.
View the famed Bridge of Avignon, the city’s landmark.
The world-famous bridge is officially called "Pont St. Benezet". It is the subject of a very famous song that is known by children around the world entitled: "Sur le Pont d'Avignon".
The bridge, built in the 12th century, once spanned the beautiful Rhone River. Much of it was washed away by flooding over the centuries, however, four of the original 22 arches still remain.
Lunch is in the historic center on your own.
Then travel to the Pont du Gard, an ancient Roman aqueduct that crosses the Gardon River dating from 19 AD, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Pont du Gard aqueduct is the most-visited monument in France dating from antiquity. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the best-preserved Roman sites in the world.
It was really raining by now and I headed back while John went with Joe down below.
Found in Occitanie, between Nîmes, Uzès and Avignon, this wonder of the ancient world is a showcase of technical prowess with its extraordinary scale, as well as magical site that has been reclaimed by nature since it was renovated in the 2000s.
CHECK IN - 6??
TIME 7 PM Enjoy dinner with wine together at the hotel tonight
Overnight: Carcassonne
Mercure Carcassonne Porte de la Cite Hotel
The hotel is within a half mile walk of the medieval city of Carcassonne and the Château Comtal. The Basilica of St. Nazaire and St. Celse is within a mile walk of the hotel.DAY 8, Wednesday - Avignon, Pont du Gard, Carcassonne
LUGGAGE OUT - 7 AM
DEPART - 9 AM
This morning journey on to Avignon, the "City of Popes" named after seven popes who reigned there during the 1300s.
Admire the Place de l'Horlorge, the city's main square and the vast Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes), a fortress-like palace that once served as the papal residence.
The Place de l'Horloge (Clock Tower Square) is the main square and heart of Avignon. Buildings located on the square include Avignon's 19th century city hall and opera. Ironically, the famous clock, after which the square is named, is barely visible from Place de l'Horloge.
View the famed Bridge of Avignon, the city’s landmark.
The world-famous bridge is officially called "Pont St. Benezet". It is the subject of a very famous song that is known by children around the world entitled: "Sur le Pont d'Avignon".
The bridge, built in the 12th century, once spanned the beautiful Rhone River. Much of it was washed away by flooding over the centuries, however, four of the original 22 arches still remain.
Lunch is in the historic center on your own.
Then travel to the Pont du Gard, an ancient Roman aqueduct that crosses the Gardon River dating from 19 AD, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Pont du Gard aqueduct is the most-visited monument in France dating from antiquity. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the best-preserved Roman sites in the world.
It was really raining by now and I headed back while John went with Joe down below.
Found in Occitanie, between Nîmes, Uzès and Avignon, this wonder of the ancient world is a showcase of technical prowess with its extraordinary scale, as well as magical site that has been reclaimed by nature since it was renovated in the 2000s.
End the day in the fairytale medieval town of Carcassonne.
CHECK IN - 6??
TIME 7 PM Enjoy dinner with wine together at the hotel tonight
Overnight: Carcassonne
Mercure Carcassonne Porte de la Cite Hotel
La Vicomte restaurant serves a variety of regional dishes for lunch and dinner. Beverages are available at the hotel's bar.
We had a great view from our room of Carcasonne, which has been on my bucket list since 2005 when I read Kate Mosse's trilogy.
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From there I had gone to their website and was enamoured forever.
After dinner we decide to walk up to the castle on our own. It had been raining steadily but now stopped and there were very few people around.
Very cool sundial!
The Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus is a Roman Catholic minor basilica. It is a national monument, and is in the Gothic-Romanesque architectural tradition.
We'll see inside tomorrow.
As it got darker the views were more incredible.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Hotel
Links to previous posts about this trip:
