Avignon (, ; ; oc, Avinhon, label=

Provençal Provençal may refer to: *Of Provence, a region of France * Provençal dialect, a dialect of the Occitan language, spoken in the southeast of France *''Provençal'', meaning the whole Occitan language *Franco-Provençal language, a distinct Roman ...

or , ; la, Avenio) is the

prefecture A prefecture (from the Latin ''Praefectura'') is an administrative jurisdiction traditionally governed by an appointed prefect. This can be a regional or local government subdivision in various countries, or a subdivision in certain international ...

of the Vaucluse

department Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...

in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. Located on the left bank of the river Rhône, the commune had a population of 93,671 as of the census results of 2017, with about 16,000 (estimate from Avignon's municipal services) living in the ancient town centre enclosed by its medieval walls. It is France's 35th largest metropolitan area according to INSEE with 336,135 inhabitants (2019), and France's 13th largest urban unit with 458,828 inhabitants (2019). Its urban area was the fastest-growing in France from 1999 until 2010 with an increase of 76% of its population and an area increase of 136%. The Communauté d'agglomération du Grand Avignon, a cooperation structure of 16 communes, had 192,785 inhabitants in 2018. Between 1309 and 1377, during the Avignon Papacy, seven successive popes resided in Avignon and in 1348 Pope Clement VI bought the town from Joanna I of Naples. Papal control persisted until 1791 when during the French Revolution it became part of France. The city is now the capital of the Vaucluse department and one of the few French cities to have preserved its city walls. The historic centre, which includes the Palais des Papes, the cathedral and the

Pont d'Avignon Pont, meaning "bridge" in French, may refer to: Places France * Pont, Côte-d'Or, in the Côte-d'Or ''département'' * Pont-Bellanger, in the Calvados ''département'' * Pont-d'Ouilly, in the Calvados ''département'' * Pont-Farcy, in the Calv ...

, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995 because of its architecture and importance during the 14th and 15th centuries. The medieval monuments and the annual Festival d'Avignon (commonly called: "Festival In d'Avignon") and its accompanying

Festival Off d'Avignon A festival is an event ordinarily celebrated by a community and centering on some characteristic aspect or aspects of that community and its religion or cultures. It is often marked as a local or national holiday, mela, or eid. A festival co ...

- one of the world's largest festivals for performing arts, have helped to make the town a major centre for tourism.

Toponymy

The earliest forms of the name were reported by the Greeks: ''Aueniṑn'' (Stephen of Byzantium, Strabo, IV, 1, 11) and ''Aouenníōn'' (Ptolemy II, x). The Roman name ''Avennĭo Cavărum'' (Mela, II, 575, Pliny III, 36), i.e. "Avignon of Cavares", accurately shows that Avignon was one of the three cities of the Celtic-Ligurian tribe of

Cavares The Cavarī or Cavarēs (Gaulish: *''Cauaroi'', 'the heroes, champions, mighty men') were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the western part of modern Vaucluse, around the present-day cities of Avignon, Orange and Cavaillon, during the Roman period. They ...

, along with Cavaillon and Orange. The current name dates to a pre-Indo-European or pre-Latin theme ''ab-ên'' with the suffix ''-i-ōn(e)''. This theme would be a hydronym – i.e. a name linked to the river (Rhône), but perhaps also an oronym of terrain (the ''Rocher des Doms''). The ''Auenion'' of the 1st century BC was Latinized to ''Avennĭo'' (or ''Avēnĭo''), ''-ōnis'' in the 1st century and is written ''Avinhon'' in classic

Occitan Occitan may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the Occitania territory in parts of France, Italy, Monaco and Spain. * Something of, from, or related to the Occitania administrative region of France. * Occitan language Occitan (; o ...

spelling or ''Avignoun'' in Mistralian spelling. The inhabitants of the commune are called ''avinhonencs'' or ''avignounen'' in both standard Occitan and

Provençal dialect Provençal (, , ; french: provençal , ; oc, provençau or ) is a Romance language, either considered as a variety of Occitan or a separate language, spoken by people in Provence and parts of Drôme. Historically, the term Provençal has been ...

History

Geography

Avignon is on the left bank of the Rhône river, a few kilometres above its confluence with the

Durance The Durance (; ''Durença'' in the Occitan classical norm or ''Durènço'' in the Mistralian norm) is a major river in Southeastern France. A left tributary of the Rhône, it is long. Its drainage basin is .Lyon and north-north-west of Marseille. On the west it shares a border with the department of

Gard Gard () is a department in Southern France, located in the region of Occitanie. It had a population of 748,437 as of 2019;Villeneuve-lès-Avignon and Les Angles and to the south it borders the department of Bouches-du-Rhône and the communes of Barbentane, Rognonas, Châteaurenard, and Noves. The city is in the vicinity of Orange (north),

Nîmes Nîmes ( , ; oc, Nimes ; Latin: ''Nemausus'') is the prefecture of the Gard department in the Occitanie region of Southern France. Located between the Mediterranean Sea and Cévennes, the commune of Nîmes has an estimated population of 148,5 ...

Montpellier Montpellier (, , ; oc, Montpelhièr ) is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. One of the largest urban centres in the region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Montpellier is the prefecture of the Departments of ...

(south-west), Arles (to the south),

Salon-de-Provence Salon-de-Provence (, ; oc, label= Provençal Occitan, Selon de Provença/Seloun de Provènço, ), commonly known as Salon, is a commune located about northwest of Marseille in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d' ...

, and Marseille (south-east). Directly contiguous to the east and north are the communes of Caumont-sur-Durance, Morières-lès-Avignon, Le Pontet, and Sorgues.

Geology and terrain

The region around Avignon is very rich in limestone which is used for building material. For example, the current

city walls A defensive wall is a fortification usually used to protect a city, town or other settlement from potential aggressors. The walls can range from simple palisades or earthworks to extensive military fortifications with towers, bastions and gates ...

, measuring 4,330 metres long, were built with the soft limestone abundant in the region called ''mollasse burdigalienne''.Relief and Geology of the Avignon sector
Agence Rosier website (archived) Enclosed by the city walls, the ''Rocher des Doms'' is a limestone elevation of ''Urgonian'' type, 35 metres high (and therefore safe from flooding of the Rhone which it overlooks) and is the original core of the city. Several limestone massifs are present around the commune (the ''Massif des Angles'', ''Villeneuve-lès-Avignon'', ''Alpilles''...) and they are partly the result of the oceanisation of the Ligurian-Provençal basin following the migration of the Sardo-Corsican block. The other significant elevation in the commune is the Montfavet Hill – a wooded hill in the east of the commune. The Rhone Valley is an old alluvial zone: loose deposits cover much of the ground. It consists of sandy alluvium more or less coloured with pebbles consisting mainly of siliceous rocks. The islands in the Rhone, such as the ''Île de la Barthelasse'', were created by the accumulation of alluvial deposits and also by the work of man. The relief is quite low despite the creation of mounds allowing local protection from flooding. In the land around the city there are clay, silt, sand, and limestone present.

Hydrography

The Rhone passes the western edge of the city, but is divided into two branches: the ''Petit Rhône'', or "dead arm", for the part that passes next to Avignon and the ''Grand Rhône'', or "live arm", for the western channel which passes Villeneuve-lès-Avignon in the

Gard Gard () is a department in Southern France, located in the region of Occitanie. It had a population of 748,437 as of 2019;Durance The Durance (; ''Durença'' in the Occitan classical norm or ''Durènço'' in the Mistralian norm) is a major river in Southeastern France. A left tributary of the Rhône, it is long. Its drainage basin is .Bouches-du-Rhône. It is a river that is considered "capricious" and once feared for its floods (it was once called the "3rd scourge of Provence" as well as for its low water: the Durance has both Alpine and Mediterranean morphology which is unusual. There are many natural and artificial water lakes in the commune such as the Lake of Saint-Chamand east of the city.

Artificial diversions

There have been many diversions throughout the course of history, such as feeding the moat surrounding Avignon or irrigating crops. In the 10th century part of the waters from the ''Sorgue d'Entraigues'' were diverted and today pass under the walls to enter the city. (See Sorgue). This watercourse is called the Vaucluse Canal but Avignon people still call it the ''Sorgue'' or ''Sorguette''. It is visible in the city in the ''Rue des teinturiers'' (street of dyers). It fed the moat around the first defensive walls then fed the moat on the newer eastern city walls (14th century). In the 13th century (under an Act signed in 1229) part of the waters of the Durance were diverted to increase the water available for the moats starting from Bonpas. This river was later called the ''Durançole''. The ''Durançole'' fed the western moats of the city and was also used to irrigate crops at Montfavet. In the city, these streams are often hidden beneath the streets and houses and are currently used to collect sewerage. The Hospital Canal (joining the Durançole) and the Crillon Canal (1775) were dug to irrigate the territories of Montfavet, Pontet, and Vedène. They were divided into numerous "fioles" or "filioles" (in

''filhòlas'' or ''fiolo''). Similarly, to irrigate the gardens of the wealthy south of Avignon, the Puy Canal was dug (1808). All of these canals took their water from the Durance. These canals were initially used to flood the land, which was very stony, to fertilize them by deposition of silt. All of these canals have been used to operate many mills.

Seismicity

Under the new seismic zoning of France defined in Decree No. 2010-1255 of 22 October 2010 concerning the delimitation of the seismicity of the French territory and which entered into force on 1 May 2011, Avignon is located in an area of moderate seismicity. The previous zoning is shown below for reference. "The cantons of Bonnieux, Apt, Cadenet, Cavaillon, and Pertuis are classified in zone Ib (low risk). All other cantons the Vaucluse department, including Avignon, are classified Ia (very low risk). This zoning is for exceptional seismicity resulting in the destruction of buildings.". The presence of faults in the limestone substrate shows that significant tectonic shift has caused earthquakes in different geological ages. The last major earthquake of significant magnitude was on 11 June 1909. It left a visible trace in the centre of the city since the bell tower of the Augustinians, which is surmounted by an ancient

campanile A bell tower is a tower that contains one or more bells, or that is designed to hold bells even if it has none. Such a tower commonly serves as part of a Christian church, and will contain church bells, but there are also many secular bell tower ...

of wrought iron, located in Rue Carreterie, remained slightly leaning as a result of this earthquake.

Climate

Avignon has a hot-summer mediterranean climate ( Köppen climate classification: Csa), though the dry-summer effect is not as strong as coastal locations like Marseille due to its more sheltered inland location. With mild-cool winters and hot summers, with moderate rainfall year-round. July and August are the hottest months with average daily maximum temperatures of around 28 °C, and January and February the coldest with average daily maximum temperatures of around 9 °C. The wettest month is September, with a rain average of 102 millimetres, and the driest month is July, when the monthly average rainfall is 37 millimetres. The city is often subject to windy weather; the strongest wind is the

mistral Mistral may refer to: * Mistral (wind) in southern France and Sardinia Automobiles * Maserati Mistral, a Maserati grand tourer produced from 1963 until 1970 * Nissan Mistral, or Terrano II, a Nissan 4×4 produced from 1993 until 2006 * Micropl ...

. A medieval Latin proverb said of the city: ''Avenie ventosa, sine vento venenosa, cum vento fastidiosa'' (Windy Avignon, pest-ridden when there is no wind, wind-pestered when there is). According to Météo-France the number of days per year with rain above 2.5 litres per square metre is 45 and the amount of water, rain and snow combined is 660 litres per square metre. Average temperatures vary between 0 and 30 °C depending on the season. The record temperature record since the existence of the weather station at Orange is 40.7 °C on 26 July 1983 and the record lowest was −14.5 °C on 2 February 1956.

The mistral

The prevailing wind is the

for which the windspeed can be beyond 110 km/h. It blows between 120 and 160 days per year with an average speed of 90 km/h in gusts. The following table shows the different speeds of the mistral recorded by Orange and Carpentras Serres stations in the southern Rhone valley and its frequency in 2006. ''Normal'' corresponds to the average of the last 53 years from Orange weather reports and that of the last 42 at Carpentras. Legend: "=" same as normal; "+" Higher than normal; "-" Lower than normal.

Demographics

In 2017, the commune had 91,921 inhabitants.

Administration

Avignon is the ''

'' (capital) of Vaucluse ''

'' in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region. It forms the core of the

Grand Avignon Grand may refer to: People with the name * Grand (surname) * Grand L. Bush (born 1955), American actor * Grand Mixer DXT, American turntablist * Grand Puba (born 1966), American rapper Places * Grand, Oklahoma * Grand, Vosges, village and commu ...

metropolitan area (''

communauté d'agglomération An agglomeration community (french: communauté d'agglomération) is a government structure in France, created by the Chevènement Law of 1999. It is one of four forms of intercommunality, less integrated than a métropole or a communauté urb ...

''), which comprises 15 communes on both sides of the river: * Les Angles,

Pujaut Pujaut (; oc, Puejaut) is a commune in the Gard department in southern France. The village is situated on the south side of a small hill overlooking a flat plain that once formed the bed of a lake. The lake was drained at the beginning of the 17 ...

, Rochefort-du-Gard, Sauveterre, Saze and Villeneuve-lès-Avignon in the

Gard Gard () is a department in Southern France, located in the region of Occitanie. It had a population of 748,437 as of 2019;Caumont-sur-Durance, Entraigues-sur-la-Sorgue,

Jonquerettes Jonquerettes (; oc, Joncairetas) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France. In 2018, it had a population of 1,528. See also *Communes of the Vaucluse department The following is ...

, Morières-lès-Avignon, Le Pontet,

Saint-Saturnin-lès-Avignon Saint-Saturnin-lès-Avignon (, literally ''St. Saturnin near Avignon''; oc, Sant Savornin d'Avinhon) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France. In 2018, it had a population of 4,857. ...

, Vedène and Velleron in the Vaucluse '.

List of mayors

List of successive

mayors In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities ...

;

Mayors In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities ...

from 1940

Twin towns – sister cities

Avignon is twinned with: * Colchester, United Kingdom since 1972 *

Guanajuato Guanajuato (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Guanajuato ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Guanajuato), is one of the 32 states that make up the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 46 municipalities and its capital city i ...

, Mexico since 1990 *

Diourbel Diourbel ( ar, ديوربل; Serer: ''Jurbel'', Wolof: ''Njaaréem'') is a town in Senegal lying east of Thiès. It is known for its mosque and local groundnut industry and is the capital of the Diourbel Region. The population in 2013 was 1 ...

, Senegal since 1961 * New Haven, Connecticut, USA since 1993 * Siena, Italy since 1981 * Tarragona, Spain since 1968 * Tortosa, Spain since 1968 * Wetzlar, Germany since 1960

Evolution of the borders of the commune

Avignon absorbed Montfavet between 1790 and 1794 then ceded Morières-lès-Avignon in 1870 and Le Pontet in 1925. On 16 May 2007 the commune of Les Angles in

Gard Gard () is a department in Southern France, located in the region of Occitanie. It had a population of 748,437 as of 2019;Avignon
Town Hall Annual, consulted on 10 September 2010

Area and population

The city of Avignon has an area of 64.78 km² and a population of 92,078 inhabitants in 2010 and is ranked as follows:

Economy

Avignon is the seat of the ''Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vaucluse'' which manages the Avignon – Caumont Airport and the Avignon-Le Pontet Docks. Avignon has 7,000 businesses, 1,550 associations, 1,764 shops, and 1,305 service providers. The urban area has one of the largest catchment areas in Europe with more than 300,000 square metres of retail space and 469 m² per thousand population against 270 on average in France. The commercial area of Avignon Nord is one of the largest in Europe. The tertiary sector is the most dynamic in the department by far on the basis of the significant production of early fruit and vegetables in Vaucluse, The MIN (Market of National Importance) has become the pivotal hub of commercial activity in the department, taking precedence over other local markets (including that of Carpentras). A

Sensitive urban zone A sensitive urban zone (french: Zone urbaine sensible, ZUS) is an urban area in France defined by the authorities to be a high-priority target for city policy, taking into consideration local circumstances related to the problems of its residents. ...

was created for companies wanting to relocate with exemptions from tax and social issues. It is located south of Avignon between the city walls and the Durance located in the districts of Croix Rouge, Monclar, Saint-Chamand, and La Rocade.

Areas of economic activity

There are nine main areas of economic activity in Avignon.Principal areas of activity in the department
, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vaucluse, consulted on 19 October 2011 The Courtine area is the largest with nearly 300 businesses (of which roughly half are service establishments, one third are shops, and the rest related to industry) and more than 3,600 jobs. The site covers an area of 300 hectares and is located south-west of the city at the TGV railway station. Then comes the Fontcouverte area with a hundred establishments representing a thousand jobs. It is, however, more oriented towards shops than the Courtine area. The MIN area of Avignon is the Agroparc area (or "Technopole Agroparc"). The Cristole area is contiguous and both have a little less than a hundred establishments. Finally, the areas of Castelette, Croix de Noves, Realpanier, and the airport each have fewer than 25 establishments spread between service activities and shops. The area of the Castelette alone represents more than 600 jobs – i.e. 100 more than Cristole.

Tourism

Four million visitors come annually to visit the city and the region and also for its festival. In 2011 the most visited tourist attraction was the Palais des Papes with 572,972 paying visitors. The annual Festival d'Avignon is the most important cultural event in the city. The official festival attracted 135,800 people in 2012. Viking Burgundy (ship, 2000) 001

River tourism began in 1994 with three river boat-hotels. In 2011 there is a fleet of 21 river boat-hotel vessels, including six sight-seeing boats which are anchored on the quay along the Oulle walkways. In addition, a free shuttle boat connects Avignon to the Île de la Barthelasse and, as of 1987, a harbor master has managed all river traffic. The commune has been awarded one flower by the ''National Council of Towns and Villages in Bloom'' in the ''Competition of cities and villages in Bloom''.

Agriculture

The city is the headquarters of the ''International Association of the Mediterranean tomato'', the ''World Council of the tomato industry'', and the ''Inter-Rhône'' organisation.

Industry

Only

EDF EDF may refer to: Organisations * Eclaireurs de France, a French Scouting association * Education for Development Foundation, a Thai charity * Électricité de France, a French energy company ** EDF Energy, their British subsidiary ** EDF Luminus, ...

(Grand Delta) with about 850 employees and ''Onet Propreté'' with just over 300 exceed 100 employees.South INSEE the highest 10
October 1998, INSEE, consulted on 18 October 2011

Public sector (excluding government)

The Henri Duffaut hospital, the City of Avignon, and the CHS of Montfavet are the largest employers in the town with about 2,000 employees each. Then comes the General Council of Vaucluse with about 1,300 employees.

Employment

In 2017 the unemployment rate was 26.0% while it was 20.7% in 2007.Dossier complet: Commune d'Avignon (84007)
INSEE, retrieved 14 September 2020 There are 38,731 people in the Avignon workforce: 102 (0.3%) agricultural workers, 2,194 (5.7%) tradesmen, shopkeepers, and business managers, 5,598 (14.5%) managers and intellectuals, 8,486 (21.9%) middle managers, 11,734 (30.3%) employees, and 9,247 (23.9%) workers.

Transport

Roads

Avignon is close to two motorways: *the A7 autoroute (E714) is a north–south axis on which there are two exits: Avignon-Nord (Northern districts of Avignon, Le Pontet, Carpentras) and Avignon-Sud (Southern districts of Avignon, Avignon-Caumont Airport); *the A9 autoroute (E15) which branches from the A7 near Orange along a north-east south-west axis towards Spain. The main roads are: *

Route nationale A ''route nationale'', or simply ''nationale'', is a class of trunk road in France. They are important roads of national significance which cross broad portions of the French territory, in contrast to departmental or communal roads which serve m ...

N100 which goes west to

Remoulins Remoulins (; oc, Remolins) is a commune in the Gard department in southern France. The town lies on the River Gardon or Gard, and is a short distance downstream of the Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard, in nearby Vers-Pont-du-Gard. The current bridg ...

* The D225 which goes north towards Entraigues-sur-la-Sorgue * The D62 which goes north-east to Vedène * The D28 which goes east to

* The D901 which goes south-east to Morières-lès-Avignon * Route nationale N570 which goes south to Rognonas The city has nine paid multi-storey car parks with a total of 7,100 spaces, multi-storey car parks under surveillance with a capacity for 2,050 cars with a free shuttle to the city centre, as well as five other free parking areas with a capacity of 900 cars.

Railways

Avignon is served by two railway stations: the historic station built in 1860, the ''

Gare d'Avignon-Centre The gare d'Avignon-Centre (Avignon Central railway station) is a railway station serving the List of French cities, city of Avignon, in Vaucluse, France. It is on the Paris–Marseille railway. Description The station building was constructed ...

'', just outside the city walls, which can accommodate any type of train and, since 2001, the ''

Gare d'Avignon TGV Gare is the word for "station" in French and related languages, commonly meaning railway station Gare can refer to: People * Gare (surname), surname * The Gare Family, fictional characters in the novel '' Wild Geese'' by Martha Ostenso Places * G ...

'' in the 'Courtine' district south of the city, on the LGV Méditerranée line. Since December 2013 the two stations have been connected by a link line – the ''Virgule''. The Montfavet district, which was formerly a separate commune, also has a station.

Airports

The

Avignon - Caumont Airport Avignon (, ; ; oc, Avinhon, label= Provençal or , ; la, Avenio) is the prefecture of the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. Located on the left bank of the river Rhône, the commune had a ...

on the south-eastern commune border has several international routes to England. The major airport in the region with domestic and international scheduled passenger service is the Marseille Provence Airport.

Water transport

The Rhône has for many centuries been an important means of transportation for the city. River traffic in Avignon has two commercial ports, docking stations for boat cruises, and various riverfront developments. A free shuttle boat has been established between the quay near the city walls and the opposite bank (the île de la Barthelasse). StationVelopop

Public transport

The (TCRA) is the public transport operator for the commune of Avignon and its surrounding suburbs. TCRA operates

bus A bus (contracted from omnibus, with variants multibus, motorbus, autobus, etc.) is a road vehicle that carries significantly more passengers than an average car or van. It is most commonly used in public transport, but is also in use for cha ...

services, as well as

bike sharing A bicycle-sharing system, bike share program, public bicycle scheme, or public bike share (PBS) scheme, is a shared transport service where bicycles are available for shared use by individuals at low cost. The programmes themselves include bot ...

and

car pooling Carpooling (also car-sharing, ride-sharing and lift-sharing) is the sharing of car journeys so that more than one person travels in a car, and prevents the need for others to have to drive to a location themselves. By having more people usin ...

services. The first tram line opened in October 2019.

Bicycles

Avignon has of bicycle paths. In 2009 the TCRA introduced a bicycle sharing system called the ''

Vélopop' Vélopop' is a bike sharing scheme in Avignon, France, launched in July 2009, engineered by Smoove. This community bicycle program A bicycle-sharing system, bike share program, public bicycle scheme, or public bike share (PBS) scheme, is ...

''.

Cultural heritage

Avignon has a very large number of sites and buildings (177) that are registered as historical monuments. Avignon shops

In the part of the city within the walls the buildings are old but in most areas they have been restored or reconstructed (such as the post office and the Lycée Frédéric Mistral). The buildings along the main street, Rue de la République, date from the Second Empire (1852–70) with

Haussmann Hausmann is a German word with former meanings "householder" and "freeholder" and current meaning "house-husband." Hausmann (Hausman), Haussmann (Haussman), Haußmann, Hauszmann, etc. are German-origin surnames that may refer to: Hausmann * Cas ...

façades and amenities around Place de l'Horloge (the central square), the neoclassical city hall, and the theatre district. Avignon statues

Listed below are the major sites of interest with those sites registered as historical monuments indicated: * Notre Dame des Doms (12th century), the cathedral is a Romanesque building, mainly built during the 12th century; the most prominent feature of the cathedral is the 19th century gilded statue of the Virgin which surmounts the western tower. The

mausoleum A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or people. A mausoleum without the person's remains is called a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be consid ...

Pope John XXII Pope John XXII ( la, Ioannes PP. XXII; 1244 – 4 December 1334), born Jacques Duèze (or d'Euse), was head of the Catholic Church from 7 August 1316 to his death in December 1334. He was the second and longest-reigning Avignon Pope, elected by ...

(1334), within the cathedral, is a noteworthy example of 14th-century Gothic carving. * Palais des Papes ("Papal Palace") (14th century) almost dwarfs the cathedral. The palace is an impressive monument and sits within a square of the same name. The palace was begun in 1316 by John XXII and continued by succeeding popes through the 14th century, until 1370 when it was finished. * Minor churches of the town include three built in the Gothic architectural style: ** Church of Saint-Pierre (14th century) which has a graceful façade and richly carved doors; ** Church of Saint-Didier (14th century); and ** Church of Saint-Agricol (14th century). * Other religious buildings: ** Church of Saint-Symphorien (14th century, former Carmelite monastery church). ** Church of Montfavet (14th century). ** Chapel of the Oratory. ** Chapel of the White penitents (16th century). ** Chapel of the Grey penitents (18th century). ** Chapel of the Black penitents. ** Synagogue (19th century). * Civic buildings are represented most notably by: ** The ''Hôtel de Ville'' (city hall) (1846), a relatively modern building with a

bell tower A bell tower is a tower that contains one or more bells, or that is designed to hold bells even if it has none. Such a tower commonly serves as part of a Christian church, and will contain church bells, but there are also many secular bell tower ...

from the 14th century, ** The old ''Hôtel des Monnaies'', the papal mint which was built in 1610 and became a music-school. ** Hospital Sainte-Marthe. ** Hotel of Saint-Priest (Hotel de Monery, 18th century). ** House of King René (15th century). * The city walls, built by the popes in the 14th century and still encircle Avignon. They are one of the finest examples of medieval fortification in existence. The walls are of great strength and are surmounted by machicolated battlements flanked at intervals by 39 massive towers and pierced by several gateways, three of which date from the 14th century. The walls were restored under the direction of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc * Bridges include: ** The ''

Pont Saint-Bénézet The Pont Saint-Bénézet (; Provençal: ''Pònt de Sant Beneset''), also known as the Pont d'Avignon (), was a medieval bridge across the Rhône in the town of Avignon, in southern France. Only four arches survive. A wooden bridge spannin ...

'', better known as the ''Pont d'Avignon'' and for the French song '' Sur le pont d'Avignon''. Only four of the twenty one piers are left and the bridge ends mid-channel. On one of the piers stands the small Romanesque chapel of Saint-Bénézet. ** The ''Pont Édouard Daladier'' and the ''Pont de Royaume'', which together span both channels of the Rhone leading to Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, thus replacing the ''Pont Saint-Bénézet'' ** The ''Pont de l'Europe'', which provides a second road crossing over the Rhone. ** Two railway bridges over the Rhone, one carrying the conventional Paris–Marseille line and the other the LGV Méditerranée line *

Calvet Museum The Calvet Museum (''musée Calvet'') is the main museum in Avignon. Since the 1980s the collection has been split between two buildings, with the fine arts housed in an 18th-century hôtel particulier and a separate Lapidary Museum in the forme ...

, so named after

Esprit Calvet __NOTOC__ Esprit Calvet (28 November 1728 – 25 July 1810) was a French physician and collector. Calvet came from a long established family in Avignon and was educated at the Jesuit college in the town. He studied medicine at the university ...

, a physician who in 1810 left his collections to the town. It has a large collection of paintings, metalwork and other objects. The library has over 140,000 volumes. * The town has a Statue of

Jean Althen Jean-Baptiste Joannis Althen, better simply known as Jean Althen (Hovhannès Althounian; 1709–1774), was an Armenian agronomist from Safavid Iran who developed the cultivation of madder in France. Although the plant had been present in the reg ...

, who migrated from Persia and in 1765 introduced the culture of the

madder ''Rubia'' is the type genus of the Rubiaceae family of flowering plants, which also contains coffee. It contains around 80 species of perennial scrambling or climbing herbs and subshrubs native to the Old World. The genus and its best-known spe ...

plant, which long formed the staple—and is still an important tool—of the local cloth trade in the area. * Musée du Petit Palais (opened 1976) at the end of the square overlooked by the Palais des Papes, has an exceptional collection of Renaissance paintings of the Avignon school as well as from Italy, which reunites many "primitives" from the collection of

Giampietro Campana Giampietro Campana (1808 – 10 October 1880), created marchese di Cavelli (1849), was an Italian art collector who assembled one of the nineteenth century's greatest collection of Greek and Roman sculpture and antiquities. The part of his collec ...

. * The ''

Hotel d'Europe A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. Facilities provided inside a hotel room may range from a modest-quality mattress in a small room to large suites with bigger, higher-quality beds, a dresser, a re ...

'', one of the oldest hotels in France, in business since 1799. * The ''Collection Lambert'', houses contemporary art exhibitions * The ''Musée Angladon'' exhibits the paintings of a private collector who created the museum * ''Musée Lapidaire'', with collections of archaeological and medieval sculptures from the

Fondation Calvet La Fondation Calvet is an art foundation in Avignon, France, named for Esprit Calvet, who left his collections and library to it in 1810. The foundation maintains several museums and two libraries, with support from the town. The original legaci ...

in the old chapel of the

Jesuit , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

College. * ''Musée Louis-Vouland'' * ''

Musée Requien Museum Requien (and not Musée Requien) is a natural history museum in Avignon, France. Some of Jean Henri Fabre's work is displayed here. Muséum Requien is named in honor of French naturalist Esprit Requien (6 May 1788, Avignon – 30 May 1851, ...

'' * ''Palais du Roure'' * ''Les Halles'' is a large indoor market that offers fresh produce, meats, and fish along with a variety of other goods. * The ''Place Pie'' is a small square near Place de l'Horloge where you can partake in an afternoon coffee on the outdoor terraces or enjoy a night on the town later in the evening as the square fills with young people. * Note: the name of Pablo Picasso's 1907 painting '' Les Demoiselles d'Avignon'' (''The Young Ladies of Avignon'') is misleading; Picasso's models for this painting were in fact not women of the city of Avignon, but rather of the Carrer d'Avinyó (Avignon Street) in Barcelona. The commune houses more than 500 historical objects, many of which religious.

Gallery

File:Avignon, Palais des Papes by JM Rosier.jpg, View of the ''Palais des Papes'' from the square on the western side. File:Abbaye Saint-Ruf d'Avignon 01.JPG, The Abbey of Saint-Ruf. File:Avignon bridge by Rosier.jpg, The ''

'' from the song Sur le Pont d'Avignon. File:Remparts d'Avignon.jpg, The city walls of Avignon. File:Hotel de la monnaie.JPG, The Hôtel des Monnaies.

Culture

Avignon Festival

A theatre festival is held annually in Avignon. Founded in 1947, the

Avignon Festival The ''Festival d'Avignon'', or Avignon Festival, is an annual arts festival held in the French city of Avignon every summer in July in the courtyard of the Palais des Papes as well as in other locations of the city. Founded in 1947 by Jean Vila ...

comprises traditional theatrical events as well as other art forms such as dance, music, and cinema, making use of the town's historical monuments. Every summer approximately 100,000 people attend the festival. There are really two festivals that take place: the more formal "Festival In", which presents plays inside the Palace of the Popes and the more bohemian "Festival Off", which is known for its presentation of largely undiscovered plays and street performances. Avignon festival was founded by Jean Vilar. This cultural initiative brought, year after year, a major economic boost to the city and to the region of Provence. Indeed, the tourists visiting Avignon during the month of July usually take benefit of their presence to go to the smaller villages around, to discover the local food, local wines, touristic activities, learn some French.

International Congress Centre

The centre was created in 1976 within the premises of the Palace of the Popes and hosts many events throughout the entire year. The Congress Centre, designed for conventions, seminars, and meetings for 10 to 550 persons, now occupies two wings of the Popes' Palace.

"Sur le Pont d'Avignon"

Avignon is commemorated by the French song ' Sur le Pont d'Avignon' ('On the bridge of Avignon'), which describes folk dancing. The song dates from the mid-19th century when Adolphe Adam included it in the

Opéra comique ''Opéra comique'' (; plural: ''opéras comiques'') is a genre of French opera that contains spoken dialogue and arias. It emerged from the popular '' opéras comiques en vaudevilles'' of the Fair Theatres of St Germain and St Laurent (and to a l ...

''Le Sourd ou l'Auberge Pleine'', which was first performed in Paris in 1853. The opera was an adaptation of the 1790 comedy by Desforges. The bridge of the song is the

over the Rhône, of which only four arches (out of the initial 22) now remain. A bridge across the Rhone was built between 1171 and 1185, with a length of some 900 m (2950 ft), but was destroyed during the siege of Avignon by Louis VIII of France in 1226. It was rebuilt but suffered frequent collapses during floods and had to be continually repaired. Several arches were already missing (and spanned by wooden sections) before the remainder was abandoned in 1669.

Sport

Sporting Olympique Avignon is the local rugby league football team. During the 20th century it produced a number of French international representative players. AC Arles-Avignon was a professional association football team. They competed in

Ligue 2 Ligue 2 (, League 2), also known as Ligue 2 BKT due to sponsor (commercial), sponsorship by Balkrishna Industries, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions ...

, after a season 2010–2011 competing in Ligue 1 and being relegated back down the following season and ultimately folding in 2016. They played at the Parc des Sports, which has a capacity of just over 17,000.

Education

The schools within the commune of Avignon are administered by the Académie d'Aix-Marseille. There are 26 state nursery schools (''Écoles maternelles'') for children up to 6, and 32 state primary schools (''Écoles élémentaires'') up to 11. There are also 4 private schools.

University of Avignon

University before the Revolution

The medieval University of Avignon, formed from the existing schools of the city, was formally constituted in 1303 by Boniface VIII in a Papal Bull. Boniface VIII and King Charles II of Naples were the first great protectors and benefactors to the university. The Law department was the most important department covering both civil and

ecclesiastical law Canon law (from grc, κανών, , a 'straight measuring rod, ruler') is a set of ordinances and regulations made by ecclesiastical authority (church leadership) for the government of a Christian organization or church and its members. It is th ...

. The law department existed nearly exclusively for some time after the university's formation and remained its most important department throughout its existence. In 1413 Pope John XXIII founded the university's department of theology, which for quite some time had only a few students. It was not until the 16th and 17th centuries that the school developed a department of medicine. The bishop of Avignon was chancellor of the university from 1303 to 1475. After 1475 the bishop became an archbishop but remained chancellor of the university. The papal vice-legate, generally a bishop, represented the civil power (in this case the pope) and was chiefly a judicial officer who ranked higher than the Primicerius (Rector). The Primicerius was elected by the Doctors of Law. In 1503 the Doctors of Law had 4 Theologians and in 1784 two Doctors of Medicine added to their ranks. Since the Pope was the spiritual head and, after 1348, the temporal ruler of Avignon, he was able to have a great deal of influence in all university affairs. In 1413 John XXIII granted the university extensive special privileges, such as university jurisdiction and tax exempt status. Political, geographical, and educational circumstances in the latter part of the university's existence caused it to seek favour from Paris rather than Rome for protection. During the chaos of the French Revolution the university started to gradually disappear and, in 1792, the university was abandoned and closed.

Modern university

A university annex of the ''Faculté des Sciences d'Aix-Marseille'' was opened in Avignon in 1963. Over the next 20 years various changes were made to the provision of tertiary education in the town until finally in 1984 the ''Université d'Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse'' was created. This was nearly 200 years after the demise of the original Avignon university. The main campus lies to the east of the city centre within the city walls. The university occupies the 18th century buildings of the ''Hôpital Sainte-Marthe''. The main building has an elegant façade with a central

portico A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls. This idea was widely used in ancient Greece and has influenced many cult ...

. The right hand side was designed by

Jean-Baptiste Franque Jean-Baptiste Franque (Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, February 1, 1683 - Avignon, March 26, 1758) was a French architect. He was the father of François II Franque and Jean-Pierre Franque, also architects, and therefore the father-in-law of the arch ...

and built between 1743 and 1745. Franque was assisted by his son François in the design of the portico. The hospital moved out in the 1980s and, after major works, the building opened for students in 1997. In 2009–2010 there were 7,125 students registered at the university.

Notable people

Réception pour les Français de Shanghai 20100430 - 21

The Arts

Nicolas Dipre Nicolas Dipre (sometimes also Nicolas d'Amiens, Nicolas d'Ypres, ''fl.'' -1532) was a French early Renaissance painter. Among the Avignon artists of the late 15th and early 16th century, the name Nicola Dipre is among the most famous. Life and ...

(ca.1495-1532), early Renaissance painter. *

Trophime Bigot Trophime Bigot (1579–1650), also known as Théophile Bigot, Teofili Trufemondi, the Candlelight Master (''Maître à la Chandelle''), was a French painter of the Baroque era, active in Rome and his native Provence. Bigot was born in Arles in 1 ...

(1579 in Arles – 1650 in Avignon), French painter of the

Baroque The Baroque (, ; ) is a style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished in Europe from the early 17th century until the 1750s. In the territories of the Spanish and Portuguese empires including t ...

era. *

Pierre Simon Jaillot Pierre Simon Jaillot was a French sculptor of ivory objects born in Avignon-lès-Saint-Claude in 1631, and died on 23 September 1681 in Paris. He was the brother of the geographer Alexis-Hubert Jaillot. Biography He was a member of the Acad ...

(1631-1681), sculptor of ivory objects * Pierre Parrocel (1664–1739), painter of the late-

period. *

Claude-Joseph Vernet Claude-Joseph Vernet (14 August 17143 December 1789) was a French painter. His son, Antoine Charles Horace Vernet, was also a painter. Life and work Vernet was born in Avignon. When only fourteen years of age he aided his father, Antoine Vernet ...

(1714-1789), a painter of night landscapes. *

Dorothea von Rodde-Schlözer Dorothea von Rodde-Schlözer (née Schlözer; 18 August 1770 – 12 July 1825) was a German scholar and the first woman to receive a doctor of philosophy degree in Germany. She was one of the so-called '' Universitätsmamsellen'', a group o ...

(1770 in Göttingen – 1825 in Avignon), artist and scholar. *

Pierre Grivolas Pierre Grivolas (2 September 1823, Avignon - 5 February 1906, Avignon) was a French painter; known for landscapes, portraits and genre scenes. Biography After displaying an early talent for drawing, his parents enrolled him in art classes. In ...

(1823-1906), painter of landscapes, portraits and genre scenes. *

Émile Beaussier Émile-Marius Beaussier (31 December 1874 – 18 October 1943) was a French painter known primarily for maritime scenes and sunny landscapes. Biography He was born in Avignon. He began his artistic training at the École nationale supérieure ...

(1874–1943), painter of maritime scenes and sunny landscapes. * Albert Gleizes (1881–1953), artist, theoretician, philosopher, self-proclaimed founder of

Cubism Cubism is an early-20th-century avant-garde art movement that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, and inspired related movements in music, literature and architecture. In Cubist artwork, objects are analyzed, broken up and reassemble ...

Yahel Chirinian Yahel Chirinian is a French contemporary sculptor and installation artist who lives and works in India. She opened the avant-garde Monsoon Heritage Studio in Goa in 2002 and won the "Goan of the Year" Award in the Arts and Culture category from ...

(born 1970), contemporary sculptor and installation artist

Music

Justine Favart Marie Justine Benoîte Favart (née Duronceray) (15 June 1727 – 22 April 1772) was an operatic singer, actress, playwright and dancer, the wife of the dramatist, Charles Simon Favart. Biography Madame Favart is largely responsible for the 18 ...

(1727–1772), an operatic singer, actress, playwright and dancer. *

Albert Guille Albert Louis Guille (1854-1914) was a French operatic tenor. He had a heyday in the United States in the mid-1880s through mid-1890s and for a time was a preferred partner of soprano Adelina Patti. For his prominence he was decorated as a Knight ...

(1854-1914), operatic tenor *

Marie Grisier-Montbazon Marie Grisier-Montbazon (née Marie-Rose Livergne (29 January 1859 − 18 October 1922), sometimes called Marie Montbazon, was a French actress and singer. Life Born in Avignon, Montbazon was the daughter of Hippolyte Livergne, an actor known ...

(1859−1922), a French actress and singer. *

Olivier Messiaen Olivier Eugène Prosper Charles Messiaen (, ; ; 10 December 1908 – 27 April 1992) was a French composer, organist, and ornithologist who was one of the major composers of the 20th century. His music is rhythmically complex; harmonically ...

(1908–1992), composer, organist, and ornithologist *

Jean-Claude Malgoire Jean-Claude Malgoire (25 November 1940 – 14 April 2018) was a French oboist and later conductor. Early life Malgoire was born on 25 November 1940 in Avignon, France. His mother was born in Italy. Malgoire graduated from the Paris Conservatory ...

(1940–2018), oboist and later conductor. * Mireille Mathieu (born 1946), singer * Christophe Rousset (born 1961), harpsichordist and conductor of

Baroque music Baroque music ( or ) refers to the period or dominant style of Western classical music composed from about 1600 to 1750. The Baroque style followed the Renaissance period, and was followed in turn by the Classical period after a short transiti ...

Peste Noire Peste Noire are a French black metal band from La Chaise-Dieu, France. The band was formed by "La sale Famine de Valfunde" (Ludovic Faure), also known simply as "Famine", in 2000. Their music uses standard black metal elements mixed with traditi ...

(formed 1982), a black metal band

Science & Business

Procopius Waldvogel Procopius Waldvogel (alternate spellings: Prokop Waldvogel or Procopius Waldfogel) was a medieval printer from Avignon. It is believed that he might have invented printing before Johannes Gutenberg. He flourished in the fifteenth century. Life ...

(15th C.), a medieval printer and silversmith by trade. *

Alexis-Hubert Jaillot Alexis-Hubert Jaillot (1632 – 2 November 1712) was a geographer and French cartographer, publisher at Paris, from the late 17th century and beginning of the 18th century, in the service of King Louis XIV. Biography Born in Saint-Oyand-de- ...

(1632–1712), geographer and

cartographer Cartography (; from grc, χάρτης , "papyrus, sheet of paper, map"; and , "write") is the study and practice of making and using maps. Combining science, aesthetics and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality (or an im ...

* Pierre-Esprit Radisson (1636/1640 – 1710), fur trader and explorer *

Esprit Pézenas Esprit Pézenas (28 November 1692 – 4 February 1776) was a French Jesuit astronomer, hydrographer, and mathematician who worked at the observatory in Marseilles. Through his writings and teaching he spread ideas on astronomy, mathematics and navi ...

(1692–1776), Jesuit astronomer, hydrographer and mathematician * Honoré Blanc (1736–1801), gunsmith, pioneered the use of

interchangeable parts Interchangeable parts are parts ( components) that are identical for practical purposes. They are made to specifications that ensure that they are so nearly identical that they will fit into any assembly of the same type. One such part can freely r ...

. *

Yves Delage Yves Delage (13 May 1854 – 7 October 1920) was a French zoologist known for his work into invertebrate physiology and anatomy. He also discovered the function of the semicircular canals in the inner ear. He is also famous for noting and prep ...

(1854–1920), zoologist, worked on invertebrate physiology and anatomy. *

Christine Ourmières-Widener Christine Jeanne Ourmières-Widener (born 21 September 1964) is a French businesswoman and currently the Chief Executive Officer of TAP Air Portugal. Early life Ourmières-Widener was born in Avignon, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. She studied ...

(born 1964),

CEO A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...

of TAP Air Portugal.

Public service & the Church

* Pope Gregory XI (ca.1329 – 1378), the seventh and last Avignon pope. *

Francis Lambert Francis Lambert (c. 1486 – April 8, 1530) was a Protestant reformer, the son of a papal official at Avignon, where he was born between 1485 and 1487. At the age of 15 he entered the Franciscan monastery at Avignon, and after 1517 he was an i ...

(ca.1486 – 1530), a Protestant reformer. *

Georges d'Armagnac Georges d'Armagnac (c. 1501 – July 1585) was a French humanist, patron of arts, Cardinal and diplomat deeply embroiled in the Italian Wars and in the French Wars of Religion. Biography He was born at Avignon, the son of Pierre d'Armagna ...

(ca.1501 – 1585), humanist, patron of arts, Cardinal and diplomat * Alexandre de Rhodes (1591–1664),

Jesuit , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

missionary. * Chevalier de Folard (1669–1752), soldier and military theorist, championed infantry columns *

Louis des Balbes de Berton de Crillon Louis des Balbes de Berton de Crillon (c. 1541, Murs, Provence – 2 December 1615, Avignon) was a French soldier, called the ''man without fear'' and, by Henry IV the ''brave of the brave''. Louis was born in France from a branch of the Balbo ...

(1717–1796), Captain general of the Army. *

Étienne-Antoine Boulogne Étienne-Antoine Boulogne (1747–1825) was a French cleric of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Troyes from 1809 to 1825. Early life Étienne-Antoine Boulogne was born at Avignon on 26 December 1747. He was the son of poor ...

(1747–1825), cleric,

Bishop of Troyes The Diocese of Troyes (Latin: ''Dioecesis Trecensis''; French: ''Diocèse de Troyes'') is a Latin Church , native_name_lang = la , image = San Giovanni in Laterano - Rome.jpg , imagewidth = 250px , alt ...

, 1809-1825. * Pierre Louis Jean Casimir de Blacas (1771–1839), antiquarian, nobleman and diplomat *

Joseph Agricol Viala Joseph Agricol Viala (22 February 1778 – 6 July 1793) was a child hero in the French Revolutionary Army. He was killed at age 15, though he is most often portrayed as a younger child of 11–13. Life Viala was living in Avignon when, in 1793, a ...

(1778–1793), child hero in the French Revolutionary Army, killed aged 15 *

John Stuart Mill John Stuart Mill (20 May 1806 – 7 May 1873) was an English philosopher, political economist, Member of Parliament (MP) and civil servant. One of the most influential thinkers in the history of classical liberalism, he contributed widely to ...

(1806 – 1873 in Avignon), an English philosopher, political economist and MP; he is buried in the local cemetery. * Édouard Daladier (1884–1970), politician and 3 x pre-war

Prime Minister of France The prime minister of France (french: link=no, Premier ministre français), officially the prime minister of the French Republic, is the head of government of the French Republic and the leader of the Council of Ministers. The prime minister ...

Bernard Kouchner Bernard Kouchner KBE (born 1 November 1939) is a French politician and doctor. He is the co-founder of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Médecins du Monde. From 2007 until 2010, he was the French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs ...

(born 1939), politician, co-founded Médecins Sans Frontières *

Edmond Alphandéry Edmond Alphandéry (born 2 September 1943) is a French politician, public-sector company executive, and public policy advocate. He was the French Minister of Economy and Finance from 1993 to 1995, executive chairman of Électricité de France ...

(born 1943), politician, public-sector company executive *

Muriel Casals i Couturier Muriel Casals i Couturier (6 April 1945 – 14 February 2016) was a Catalan economist with both Spanish and French nationality. Biography She was born in Avignon, France. Couturier was a professor in the Department of Economics and Historical Ec ...

(1945–2016), a Catalan economist and academic

Writing

Bertran Folcon d'Avignon Bertran Folcon d'Avignon or Bertran Folco d'Avinhon ( fl. 1202–1233) was a Provençal nobleman and troubadour from Avignon. He was a faithful partisan of Raymond VI and Raymond VII of Toulouse in Provence, and participated in the wars again ...

(fl. 1202–1233), a Provençal nobleman, troubadour and poet *

Abraham Farissol Abraham ben Mordecai Farissol ( he, אַבְרָהָם בֵּן מֹרְדְּכַי פָרִיצוֹל, ''Avraham ben Mordekhai Faritzol'', ; – 1525 or 1526) was a Jewish-Italian geographer, cosmographer, scribe, and polemicist. He was the f ...

(ca.1451 – ca.1525), a Jewish-Italian geographer, cosmographer, scribe and polemicist. *

Marianne-Agnès Falques Marianne-Agnès Falques, also known as Marianne Fauques, was a French author of romance novels and other topical writings, including the ''History of Madame the Marquise de Pompadour''. Biography A study of the life of Marianne Falques reveals ...

(1720-1785), author of romance novels and other topical writing *

Armand de Pontmartin Armand Augustin Joseph Marie Ferrard, Comte de Pontmartin (1811-1890) was a French journalist, critic and man of letters. Pontmartin was born at Avignon (Vaucluse), France, on 16 July 1811. A Legitimist sympathizer, he began his career by attack ...

(1811-1890), journalist, critic and man of letters. * Henri Bosco (1888-1976), writer, nominated for the

Nobel Prize in Literature ) , image = Nobel Prize.png , caption = , awarded_for = Outstanding contributions in literature , presenter = Swedish Academy , holder = Annie Ernaux (2022) , location = Stockholm, Sweden , year = 1901 , ...

four times. * Pierre Boulle (1912-1994), author of the novels: '' The Bridge over the River Kwai'' and '' Planet of the Apes'' *

René Girard René Noël Théophile Girard (; ; 25 December 1923 – 4 November 2015) was a French polymath, historian, literary critic, and philosopher of social science whose work belongs to the tradition of philosophical anthropology. Girard was the aut ...

(1923–2015), polymath, historian, literary critic and philosopher of social science *

Daniel Arsand Daniel Arsand (born 9 July 1950 in Avignon) is a French writer as well as a publisher specializing in foreign literature. Biography After spending most of his childhood and adolescence at Roanne, Daniel Arsand practiced in Paris various profe ...

(born 1950), writer and publisher *

Mazarine Pingeot Mazarine Marie Pingeot (born 18 December 1974) who changed her name to Mazarine Marie Mitterrand Pingeot in November 2016, is a French writer, journalist and professor. Biography Pingeot is the daughter of former French president François Mi ...

(born 1974), writer, journalist and associate Professor of philosophy at the Paris 8 University and daughter of former French President

François Mitterrand François Marie Adrien Maurice Mitterrand (26 October 19168 January 1996) was President of France, serving under that position from 1981 to 1995, the longest time in office in the history of France. As First Secretary of the Socialist Party, he ...

. *

Vincent Almendros Vincent Almendros (born in 1978, Avignon) is a French novelist. Biography Vincent Almendros studied letters at the University of Avignon before beginning to write poetry and prose. He sent his first completed novel, ''Ma chère Lise'', to Jean-P ...

(born 1978), writer, winner of the 2015

prix Françoise Sagan The prix Françoise Sagan is a French literary award established in 2010 by , the son of Françoise Sagan. The Prize Awarded at the beginning of June, the Prix Françoise Sagan rewards "an author never yet rewarded, not even selected in recent ...

Sport

Éric Di Meco Éric Yves Di Meco (born 7 September 1963) is a French former professional footballer who played as a left back. Club career Di Meco was born in Avignon, Vaucluse. During his career, he played mostly for Olympique de Marseille. After starting ...

(born 1963), former footballer with 342 club caps and 23 with France * Jean Alesi, (born 1964), professional racing driver for

Formula 1 Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship, ...

DTM DTM may refer to: Sport * Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, a motor-racing series staged annually in Germany since 2000 * Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft, a motor-racing championship staged in Germany from 1984 to 1995 Computing * Deterministic T ...

Teddy Richert Teddy Richert (born 21 September 1974) is a French goalkeeper coach, currently working for Montpellier, and former football goalkeeper. Richert spent the most of his career at Sochaux-Montbéliard and was considered to be one of the most consis ...

(born 1974), goalkeeper coach and former goalkeeper with 464 club caps *

Cédric Carrasso Cédric Pascal Régis Carrasso (born 30 December 1981) is a French former professional footballer who spent most of his career with Bordeaux and Marseille playing as a goalkeeper. He was also capped once for the France national team. Club caree ...

(born 1981), former footballer with 379 club caps *

Philippe Toledo Philippe Dominique Toledo (born 18 December 1983) is a French former professional footballer who played as a striker. Career Born in Avignon, Toledo played youth football with Nîmes. Not yet aged 18, he moved to Spain where he would remain th ...

(born 1983), former footballer with 449 club caps *

Camille Ayglon Camille Ayglon-Saurina (born 21 May 1985) is a retired French handballer who represented the French national team. She competed in three Olympic Games (2008, 2012 & 2016). On 1 December 2016, Ayglon-Saurina was awarded the rank of Chevalier ( ...

(born 1985), retired handballer with 270 caps with France women and an

Olympic Olympic or Olympics may refer to Sports Competitions * Olympic Games, international multi-sport event held since 1896 ** Summer Olympic Games ** Winter Olympic Games * Ancient Olympic Games, ancient multi-sport event held in Olympia, Greece b ...

team silver medallist *

Benoît Richaud Benoît Richaud (born 16 January 1988) is a French figure skating choreographer and former competitive ice dancer. He has competed at three World Junior Championships, placing as high as seventh. Richaud currently lives in Avignon, France, his h ...

(born 1988), figure skating choreographer and former competitive ice dancer. *

Benoît Paire Benoît Paire (; born 8 May 1989) is a French professional tennis player. His best result in a Grand Slam has been reaching the fourth round, which he has achieved on four occasions. He has won three singles titles, at the 2015 Swedish Open, t ...

(born 1989), tennis player, best singles ranking is World No. 18, in January 2016 *

Younès Belhanda Younès Belhanda (; born 25 February 1990) is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Turkish Süper Lig club Adana Demirspor and the Morocco national team. Born in France, he initially represented his native country ...

(born 1990), footballer with over 360 club caps and 58 for Morocco *

Tony Gigot Tony Gigot (born 27 December 1990) is a French professional rugby league footballer who plays as a or for France at international level and Albi XIII in the Elite One Championship and France at international level. He previously played for t ...

(born 1990), rugby league footballer with 233 club caps and 19 for France *

Giuliano Alesi Giuliano Ryu Alesi (born 20 September 1999) is a French-Japanese racing driver. He is the son of Japanese former actress Kumiko Goto and former Formula One driver Jean Alesi. Career Karting Born in Avignon, Alesi began karting in 2013 before ...

(born 1999),

Super Formula The Japanese Super Formula Championship is a formula racing series. It is considered as being the top level of single-seater racing in Japan and regional motorsports in Asia. The series is sanctioned by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) an ...

driver *

Clément Novalak Clément Novalak (born 23 December 2000) is a French- Swiss racing driver set to race for Trident in the 2023 Formula 2 Championship, having previously drove for MP Motorsport. He previously raced in the FIA Formula Three Championship for Car ...

(born 2000),

FIA Formula 2 The FIA Formula 2 Championship is a second-tier single-seater championship organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). Held on racing circuits, the championship was introduced in 2017, following the rebranding of the lo ...

driver * Pierre-Louis Chovet (born 2002), racing driver

Notes

References

Sources

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External links

Tourist office websiteCity council websiteAvignon greater metropolitan area website

Google Earth view of Avignon
{{Authority control Communes of Vaucluse Cities in France Prefectures in France World Heritage Sites in France Universities in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Populated places on the Rhône Populated riverside places in France Cavares