Avignon

About

Inhabited since the Neolithic period, this ancient city’s name was recorded for the first time in the 6th century BC when a fortified Greek settlement was built on top of the rocky outcrop overlooking the river. In 1309 Pope Clement V selected the city as his residence, and for the next several decades it would be the capital of all of Christendom, receiving a bounty of rich architecture, including the Palace of the Popes - the largest Gothic palace in Europe. Now a UNESCO site, within the castle’s 18 foot thick walls, visitors can enjoy exploring staterooms, chapels, cloisters, and frescoed papal apartments. The city’s other UNESCO monument is the "Pont d'Avignon", of nursery-rhyme fame, the remains of a 14th century bridge. On top of the UNESCO sites, the city’s bounty of opulent churches, majestic palaces, and scenic streets make it hard for many visitors to pull themselves away.