France: Avignon Park & Palace

This was a day for stairs and steps.  Many staircases and countless steps, a real workout for the knees! 

ROCHER DES DOMS

On Sunday morning, we took the ferry over to the mainland again.  We were on the first crossing of the day and the only passengers.  Feeling ambitious, we climbed the long, angled stone staircase built against natural stone up to a park.  

Stairs up to the park
One portion of the staircase

At the top (puff, puff), you are rewarded with a set of marvelous views both over the old city and across to Isle Barthelasse and Le Bercail. Le Becail is the restaurant where we enjoyed two dinners sitting by the river with a view of the city’s wall lit at night. 

Looking toward Bathelasse

Jardin du Rocher des Doms is the name of this park. The “rocher” is a limestone hill that rises more than 90 feet above the Rhône River.  This hill provided natural protection for that city that developed. For some hundreds of years, one side was arid and sheep grazed there.  Later, promenades, fountains, and sculpture were added. 

Pavilion with fountain

 Once you have made the climb, there are views on all sides plus statues to check out.  

Looking down on Avignon

Returning to the level, there are gently sloping promenades that wind their way past the cathedral and down and around to the city below.

Avignon Cathedral

Few people were out, the air was soft, and the loudest sounds were the church bells booming the quarter hours.  A few steps away is the Palace of the Popes.

PALAIS DES PAPES

Entrance to Palais des Papes

The Palace of the Popes is a mighty symbol of Christianity in earlier centuries and dominates the old city of Avignon.  It was built in the 14th century in less than 20 years under the leadership of Benedict 12th and his successor Clement 6th. It’s the biggest Gothic palace in all of Europe; its floor space is the equivalent of four Gothic cathedrals!  At least seven popes ruled from here before the papacy moved back to Rome in the 15th century.

We bought tickets to go inside the Palace.  Included in the admission price is an iPad. There is no sound, but by scanning a seal at the various points during your tour, text and diagrams appear on the screen explaining what a particular space was for and enabling you to see what the room looked like when it was in use.  Pointing the iPad at the ceiling, for example, you could see its original colors and patterns. The iPad was a bit heavy to carry, but the text for us was in English.  Virtually all of the explanatory panels in the rooms were French only.  

One facade of the palace

We did get a sense of the grandeur and size of the palace in the early centuries since several towers were taken down and other changes made by subsequent popes.  And a glimpse of some of the frescoes.  By climbing up and down many more narrow staircases, we got views to the surrounding buildings and also a chance to sit in the pope’s private garden. 

Interior gardens

 It wasn’t a perfect tour.  The signage could have been better, and the way to exit much clearer. Near the end, we roamed around trying to find the Sortie sign.  Turns out the only way to get out is to drop off your iPad and then go through the two levels of the gift shop. 

LUNCH AND DINNER

You could easily find an outdoor café for lunch as cafes abound in this city.  But, we had booked a table at the elegant bistro, Le Carre du Palais, and had a table outside looking toward the palace wall.  The café has a notable selection of wines by the glass (we splurged a bit in our choices) and an intriguing menu. To start, we  both had the shrimp with corn espuma (foam) followed by the veal filet with forest mushrooms for the Chief Penguin and salmon in a very light curry sauce for me. 

Shrimp and corn foam
Salmon with style!

The Condrieu wine I had was lovely. Dessert for the CP was a stacked St. Honore.  

Dessert with a lean

We relaxed and savored this meal.  No waiter rushed or even nudged us. We could sit as long as we liked.

Our dinner that evening and the one before were at Le Bercail, the only restaurant serving. Their menu is short and the view enchanting.  We liked the platter of charcuterie and cheese we had twice as well as the fish soup and beef daube we sampled.  

Avignon at night from Isle Barthelasse

Note: All photos ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved.)

France: Avignon

LODGING & LOCATION

Avignon is one of France’s largest cities with walls and many gates of entry and the famous bridge of the song every American school child learns in 3rd grade. The city is historically important because In the 14th century, for almost 70 years, Avignon was the site of the papacy. Over that time, seven popes resided here. Pope Clement V chose Avignon over Rome because it was more centrally located in Christendom. Although the papacy moved back to Rome in the 15th century, Avignon did not become part of France until 1791 after many invasions and sieges and just two years after the start of the French Revolution.

We are staying on Ile de la Barthelasse, very close to old Avignon. There is free ferry service across the Rhone River.  Our B&B is down a dirt lane tucked in, but it is possible to drive and park at a nearby restaurant and walk from there to the ferry landing.  Ferry hours are more limited now that is October and post season. 

The house we are staying in has a pretty garden and pool and small round tables outside each guest unit.  Our room is quite spacious and has modern plumbing and a nice shower.  We also have a mini fridge, just the right size to store a bottle of wine or some fruit.  

B&B grounds and pool

Last evening, Luc, our host here at Le Mas de L’ile, kindly drove us and another guest to a parking lot near a bridge.  We climbed a tall staircase and then walked across the bridge over the Rhône and through one of the gates into the city. There is nothing subtle about the architecture, but it is pleasant to walk these streets and think about all that has gone on here.

Avignon’s outer walls are impressive to say the least!
Grand architecture
Bank, now a wine bar/restaurant

We had dinner at an up and coming newer restaurant called L’Essentiel.  The Chief Penguin loved what he ordered, and I think he made better choices than I did.  He had the foie gras starter followed by lamb shank cooked for 7 hours and then a little molten chocolate cake. 

Roast lamb and veggies

 I had the egg parfait to start.  I was being adventurous since I had enjoyed an egg cocotte previously.  This dish was okay with its croutons and fried zucchini rounds, but a bit bland and too eggy.  My main course was chicken (cooked sous vide) layered with some greens on top and underneath a mixture of tomatoes and potatoes.  It was different and nicely presented, but I didn’t love it.  My dessert was raspberries and cherries in a thick jam with sorbet and meringue.  

Serious conversation

The restaurant’s hostess was delightful and quickly agreed to arrange a cab to pick us up and take us back to our B&B.

WHAT THIS TRIP IS ABOUT

This trip has many aspects.  It’s a return to a country where we have spent considerable time over the decades. It’s an opportunity to visit regions we had not been to before like Normandy and Brittany and experience their noteworthy history and culture.  Traveling by car, it’s a chance to explore small towns and villages and get the flavor of local life.

It has not been a trip marked by lots of museums and ruins, a bit more of those when we get to Paris.  And because we love food and French cuisine especially, we have focused on and savored the meals, whether they be traditional fare in a casual bistro or the creative offerings of a rising young chef. We are deliberately not maintaining a frantic or even a frenetic pace.  We are picking and choosing from the suggestions from our trip organizers and going about our days in a somewhat relaxed manner.  This is travel that works for us at this stage of life.

SATURDAY IN AVIGNON

This morning we took the ferry across the Rhône. We had a wait for the small boat, but the actual crossing takes only about 3 minutes. 

Ferry landing, Avignon side
Two women are the ferry boat crew

Disembarking, you go up a ramp and walk a short distance along a busy road to one of the big gates.  We entered just beyond Porte d’Avignon and spent about an hour wandering the streets and re-visiting the main square, Place de l’Horloge, in the old town. Translated it means Clock Tower Square, but the clock of its name is barely visible, and I never did see it.  Like Paris, the square is filled with grand 19th century buildings (city hall, opera house, old bank) and dotted with lots of sidewalk cafes.  If nothing else, the French give priority to dining well and often.

On the recommendation of Luc, our host here, we had lunch at La Cour d’Honneur.  The tables in the courtyard offered views out to the street while still being enclosed. Here, we had a wonderful meal, another one of the best of this trip.  The Chief Penguin and I both started with the Provençal tomatoes with mozzarella and greens in pesto oil.  He had scallops with black truffle and I, the salmon with spinach. Silky risotto accompanied both dishes.  With a bit of local wine and espresso to finish, it was perfect.  I heard no English at all, and had fun watching the French diners around us.

Animated conversation
A good time

Note: Photos by JWFarrington (some rights reserved.) Header photo shows one of Avignon’s exterior walls.