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Avignon (, , ; or , ; ) is the
prefecture
A prefecture (from the Latin word, "''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 inter ...
of the Vaucluse
Vaucluse (; or ) is a department in the southeastern French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. It had a population of 561,469 as of 2019.
department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (commonly shortened to PACA), also known as Région Sud, is one of the eighteen Regions of France, administrative regions of France, located at the far southeastern point of the Metropolitan France, mainland. The main P ...
region of southeastern France. Located on the left bank of the river Rhône
The Rhône ( , ; Occitan language, Occitan: ''Ròse''; Franco-Provençal, Arpitan: ''Rôno'') is a major river in France and Switzerland, rising in the Alps and flowing west and south through Lake Geneva and Southeastern France before dischargi ...
, 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 337,039 inhabitants (2020), and France's 13th-largest urban unit
In France, an urban unit () is a statistical area defined by INSEE, the French national statistics office, for the measurement of contiguously built-up areas. According to the INSEE definition , an "unité urbaine" is a commune alone or a grou ...
with 459,533 inhabitants (2020). 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 197,102 inhabitants in 2022.
Between 1309 and 1377, during the Avignon Papacy
The Avignon Papacy (; ) was the period from 1309 to 1376 during which seven successive popes resided in Avignon (at the time within the Kingdom of Arles, part of the Holy Roman Empire, now part of France) rather than in Rome (now the capital of ...
, seven successive pope
The pope is the bishop of Rome and the Head of the Church#Catholic Church, visible head of the worldwide Catholic Church. He is also known as the supreme pontiff, Roman pontiff, or sovereign pontiff. From the 8th century until 1870, the po ...
s resided in Avignon and in 1348 Pope Clement VI
Pope Clement VI (; 1291 – 6 December 1352), born Pierre Roger, was head of the Catholic Church from 7 May 1342 to his death, in December 1352. He was the fourth Avignon pope. Clement reigned during the first visitation of the Black Death (1 ...
bought the town from Joanna I of Naples
Joanna I, also known as Johanna I (; December 1325 – 27 July 1382), was Queen of Naples, and Countess of Provence and Forcalquier from 1343 to 1381; she was also Princess of Achaea from 1373 to 1381.
Joanna was the eldest daughter of C ...
. 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. This is why Avignon is also known as La Cité des Papes'' (The City-State of Popes).
The historic centre, which includes the , the cathedral and the Pont d'Avignon, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site
World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...
in 1995 because of its architecture and importance during the 14th and 15th centuries. The medieval monuments and the annual Festival d'Avignon
The ''Festival d'Avignon'', or Avignon Festival (), is an annual arts festival held in the France, 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 ...
one of the world's largest festivals for performing artshave 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 ofCavares
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. Th ...
, along with Cavaillon
Cavaillon (; ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France.
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
A hydronym (from , , "water" and , , "name") is a type of toponym that designates a proper name of a body of water. Hydronyms include the proper names of rivers and streams, lakes and ponds, swamps and marshes, seas and oceans. As a subset of top ...
—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, spoken in parts 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 (, , , ; or ) is a variety of Occitan, spoken by people in Provence and parts of Drôme and Gard. The term Provençal used to refer to the entire Occitan language, but more recently it has referred only to the variety of Occitan ...
.
History
Geography
Avignon is on the left bank of theRhône
The Rhône ( , ; Occitan language, Occitan: ''Ròse''; Franco-Provençal, Arpitan: ''Rôno'') is a major river in France and Switzerland, rising in the Alps and flowing west and south through Lake Geneva and Southeastern France before dischargi ...
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
Lyon (Franco-Provençal: ''Liyon'') is a city in France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of the French Alps, southeast of Paris, north of Marseille, southwest of Geneva, Switzerland, north ...
and north-north-west of Marseille
Marseille (; ; see #Name, below) is a city in southern France, the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Bouches-du-Rhône and of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region. Situated in the ...
. 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
The region around Avignon is very rich in
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
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 Provençal ''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.
Bouches-du-Rhône
Bouches-du-Rhône ( ; , ; ; "the Mouths of the Rhône") is a Departments of France, department in southern France. It borders Vaucluse to the north, Gard to the west and Var (department), Var to the east. The Mediterranean Sea lies to the sout ...
and the communes of Barbentane, Rognonas, Châteaurenard
Châteaurenard (; Provençal ; ) is a commune in the Arles arrondissement, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in southern France.
Population
Twin towns
Châteaurenard is twinned with:
* Alte ...
, and Noves.
The city is in the vicinity of Orange (north), Nîmes
Nîmes ( , ; ; Latin: ''Nemausus'') is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Gard Departments of France, department in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie Regions of France, region of Southern France. Located between the Med ...
, Montpellier
Montpellier (; ) 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 France, department of ...
(south-west), Arles
Arles ( , , ; ; Classical ) is a coastal city and Communes of France, commune in the South of France, a Subprefectures in France, subprefecture in the Bouches-du-Rhône Departments of France, department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Reg ...
(to the south), Salon-de-Provence
Salon-de-Provence (, ; or , ), commonly known as Salon, is a commune located about northwest of Marseille in the Bouches-du-Rhône department (Metropolis of Aix-Marseille Provence), region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Southern France. It ...
, and Marseille
Marseille (; ; see #Name, below) is a city in southern France, the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Bouches-du-Rhône and of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region. Situated in the ...
(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
Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...
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 such as curtain walls with to ...
, measuring 4,330 metres long, were built with the soft limestone abundant in the region called ''mollasse burdigalienne''.Relief and Geology of the Avignon sectorAgence 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
Montfavet is a district of the city of Avignon in the Vaucluse in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.
In southern France, the district is well known for the psychiatric hospital, " Centre Hospitalier Montfavet Avignon" located Montdevergues.
...
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 theGard
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
Bouches-du-Rhône ( ; , ; ; "the Mouths of the Rhône") is a Departments of France, department in southern France. It borders Vaucluse to the north, Gard to the west and Var (department), Var to the east. The Mediterranean Sea lies to the sout ...
. 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 Provençal ''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 ancientcampanile
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 to ...
of wrought iron, located in Rue Carreterie, remained slightly leaning as a result of this earthquake.
Climate
Avignon has ahot-summer mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate ( ), also called a dry summer climate, described by Köppen and Trewartha as ''Cs'', is a temperate climate type that occurs in the lower mid-latitudes (normally 30 to 44 north and south latitude). Such climates typic ...
(Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
: Csa), though the dry-summer effect is not as strong as coastal locations like Marseille
Marseille (; ; see #Name, below) is a city in southern France, the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Bouches-du-Rhône and of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region. Situated in the ...
due to its more sheltered inland location. The city experiences mild-cool winters and hot summers, with moderate rainfall year-round. The city is often subject to windy weather; the strongest wind is the mistral. 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).
The record temperature record since the existence of the weather station at Orange is 42.8 °C on 28 June 2019 and the record lowest was −14.5 °C on 2 February 1956.
The mistral
The prevailing wind is the mistral 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 normalDemographics
In 2017, the commune had 91,921 inhabitants.Administration
Avignon is the ''prefecture
A prefecture (from the Latin word, "''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 inter ...
'' (capital) of Vaucluse
Vaucluse (; or ) is a department in the southeastern French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. It had a population of 561,469 as of 2019.
'' department'' in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region. It forms the core of the Grand Avignon metropolitan area (''communauté d'agglomération
An agglomeration community (, ) is a consortium of communes in France, communes (municipality, municipalities) in France, created as a government structure by the Jean-Pierre Chevènement, Chevènement Law of 1999. It is one of four forms of co ...
''), which comprises 15 communes on both sides of the river:
* Les Angles, Pujaut
Pujaut (; ) 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 17th century ...
, 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, Morières-lès-Avignon, Le Pontet, Saint-Saturnin-lès-Avignon, Vedène and Velleron in the Vaucluse '.
, 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.
October 1998, INSEE, consulted on 18 October 2011
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.
The 
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 (architecture), Second Empire (1852–70) with Georges-Eugène Haussmann, Haussmann façades and amenities around Place de l'Horloge (the central square), the neoclassical city hall, and the theatre district.
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 architecture, 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 of Pope John XXII (1334), within the cathedral, is a noteworthy example of 14th-century Gothic carving.
* ("Papal Palace") (14th century) almost dwarfs the cathedral. The palace is a 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, Avignon, Hôtel de Ville (city hall) (1846), a relatively modern building with a 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'', 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, 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 railway, Paris–Marseille line and the other the LGV Méditerranée, LGV Méditerranée line
* Calvet Museum, so named after Esprit Calvet, 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, who migrated from Persia and in 1765 introduced the culture of the Rubia, madder plant, which long formed the staple—and is still an important tool—of the local cloth trade in the area.
* Musée du Petit Palais, Avignon, 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.
* The ''Hotel d'Europe'', 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 in the old chapel of the Jesuit College.
* ''Musée Louis-Vouland''
* ''Musée Requien''
* ''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 are religious.
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, Abbey of Saint-Ruf, Avignon, Abbey of Saint-Ruf
File:Avignon bridge by Rosier.jpg, The '' Pont d'Avignon'' 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
Avignon Tourisme website
{{Authority control Avignon, 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
List of mayors
List of successivemayors
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 responsibilitie ...
;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 responsibilitie ...
from 1940
Twin towns – sister cities
Avignon is twinned with: *Colchester
Colchester ( ) is a city in northeastern Essex, England. It is the second-largest settlement in the county, with a population of 130,245 at the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 Census. The demonym is ''Colcestrian''.
Colchester occupies the ...
, United Kingdom since 1972
*Guanajuato
Guanajuato, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Guanajuato, is one of the 32 states that make up the Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into Municipalities of Guanajuato, 46 municipalities and its cap ...
, Mexico since 1990
*Diourbel
Diourbel (; Serer language, Serer: ''Jurbel'', Wolof language, Wolof: ''Njaaréem'') is a town and urban commune in Senegal lying east of Thiès. It is known for its mosque and local peanut, groundnut industry and is the capital of the Diourbe ...
, Senegal since 1961
*New Haven
New Haven is a city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound. With a population of 135,081 as determined by the 2020 U.S. census, New Haven is the third largest city in Co ...
, Connecticut, USA since 1993
*Siena
Siena ( , ; traditionally spelled Sienna in English; ) is a city in Tuscany, in central Italy, and the capital of the province of Siena. It is the twelfth most populated city in the region by number of inhabitants, with a population of 52,991 ...
, Italy since 1981
*Tarragona
Tarragona (, ; ) is a coastal city and municipality in Catalonia (Spain). It is the capital and largest town of Tarragonès county, the Camp de Tarragona region and the province of Tarragona. Geographically, it is located on the Costa Daurada ar ...
, Spain since 1968
*Tortosa
Tortosa (, ) is the capital of the '' comarca'' of Baix Ebre, in Catalonia, Spain.
Tortosa is located at above sea level, by the Ebro river, protected on its northern side by the mountains of the Cardó Massif, of which Buinaca, one of the hi ...
, Spain since 1968
*Wetzlar
Wetzlar () is a city in the state of Hesse, Germany. It is the twelfth largest city in Hesse with currently 55,371 inhabitants at the beginning of 2019 (including second homes). As an important cultural, industrial and commercial center, the un ...
, Germany since 1960
Evolution of the borders of the commune
Avignon absorbedMontfavet
Montfavet is a district of the city of Avignon in the Vaucluse in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.
In southern France, the district is well known for the psychiatric hospital, " Centre Hospitalier Montfavet Avignon" located Montdevergues.
...
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;Carpentras
Carpentras (, formerly ; Provençal dialect, Provençal Occitan language, Occitan: ''Carpentràs'' in classical norm or ''Carpentras'' in Mistralian norm; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Vaucluse Departments of France, department in the ...
).
A Sensitive urban zone
A sensitive urban zone (, 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.
On the 26th of December 1996 ...
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 itsFestival d'Avignon
The ''Festival d'Avignon'', or Avignon Festival (), is an annual arts festival held in the France, 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 ...
. 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.
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 MediterraneanTomato
The tomato (, ), ''Solanum lycopersicum'', is a plant whose fruit is an edible Berry (botany), berry that is eaten as a vegetable. The tomato is a member of the nightshade family that includes tobacco, potato, and chili peppers. It originate ...
, the World Council of the Tomato Industry, and the Inter-Rhône organisation.
Industry
Only EDF (Grand Delta) with about 850 employees and ''Onet Propreté'' with just over 300 exceed 100 employees.South INSEE the highest 10October 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: *theA7 autoroute
The A7 Autoroutes of France, Autoroute, also known as l'autoroute du Soleil (English: the Motorway of the Sun) is a French motorway. It continues the A6 autoroute (France), A6 and links Lyon to Marseille. The autoroute du Soleil is long and fo ...
(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
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
.
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 mo ...
N100 which goes west to Remoulins
* The D225 which goes north towards Entraigues-sur-la-Sorgue
* The D62 which goes north-east to Vedène
* The D28 which goes east to Saint-Saturnin-lès-Avignon
* 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'', just outside the city walls, which can accommodate any type of train and, since 2001, the '' Gare d'Avignon TGV'' 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 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
The Rhône ( , ; Occitan language, Occitan: ''Ròse''; Franco-Provençal, Arpitan: ''Rôno'') is a major river in France and Switzerland, rising in the Alps and flowing west and south through Lake Geneva and Southeastern France before dischargi ...
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).
Public transport
Tecelys via the ''Orizo network'' is the public transport operator for the commune of Avignon and its surrounding suburbs. Tecelys operatesbus
A bus (contracted from omnibus, with variants multibus, motorbus, autobus, etc.) is a motor vehicle that carries significantly more passengers than an average car or van, but fewer than the average rail transport. It is most commonly used ...
services (including BRT named ''Chron'hop''), as well as bike sharing and car pooling services. The first opened in October 2019.
Bicycles
Avignon has of bicycle paths. In 2009 the TCRA (former public transport operator) introduced abicycle sharing system
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 bo ...
called the ''Vélopop'''.
Cultural heritage
Avignon has a very large number of sites and buildings (177) that are registered as historical monuments.
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 (architecture), Second Empire (1852–70) with Georges-Eugène Haussmann, Haussmann façades and amenities around Place de l'Horloge (the central square), the neoclassical city hall, and the theatre district.
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 architecture, 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 of Pope John XXII (1334), within the cathedral, is a noteworthy example of 14th-century Gothic carving.
* ("Papal Palace") (14th century) almost dwarfs the cathedral. The palace is a 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, Avignon, Hôtel de Ville (city hall) (1846), a relatively modern building with a 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'', 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, 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 railway, Paris–Marseille line and the other the LGV Méditerranée, LGV Méditerranée line
* Calvet Museum, so named after Esprit Calvet, 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, who migrated from Persia and in 1765 introduced the culture of the Rubia, madder plant, which long formed the staple—and is still an important tool—of the local cloth trade in the area.
* Musée du Petit Palais, Avignon, 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.
* The ''Hotel d'Europe'', 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 in the old chapel of the Jesuit College.
* ''Musée Louis-Vouland''
* ''Musée Requien''
* ''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 are religious.
Gallery
Culture
Avignon Festival
A theatre festival is held annually in Avignon. Founded in 1947, theFestival d'Avignon
The ''Festival d'Avignon'', or Avignon Festival (), is an annual arts festival held in the France, 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 ...
(Avignon Festival) 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 dance, folk dancing. The song dates from the mid-19th century when Adolphe Adam included it in the Opéra comique ''Le Sourd ou l'Auberge Pleine'', which was first performed in Paris in 1853. The opera was an adaptation of the 1790 comedy by Pierre Jean Baptiste Choudard Desforges, Desforges. The bridge of the song is the Pont Saint-Bénézet over theRhône
The Rhône ( , ; Occitan language, Occitan: ''Ròse''; Franco-Provençal, Arpitan: ''Rôno'') is a major river in France and Switzerland, rising in the Alps and flowing west and south through Lake Geneva and Southeastern France before dischargi ...
, 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 , but was destroyed during the Siege of Avignon (1226), 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, after the 2010–2011 season competing in Ligue 1 and being relegated back down the following season and ultimately folding in 2016. They played at the Parc des Sports (Avignon), 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 Charles II of Naples, 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 Canon law, ecclesiastical law. 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 Antipope John XXIII, 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 Doctor of Medicine, 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 Pope John XXIII, John XXIII granted the university extensive special privileges, such as university jurisdiction and tax exemption, 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. The right hand side was designed by Jean-Baptiste Franque 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
The Arts
* Nicolas Dipre (-1532), early Renaissance art, Renaissance painter. * Trophime Bigot (1579 in Arles – 1650 in Avignon), French painter of the Baroque era. * Pierre Simon Jaillot (1631–1681), sculptor of ivory objects * Pierre Parrocel (1664–1739), painter of the late-Baroque period. * Claude-Joseph Vernet (1714–1789), a painter of night landscapes. * Dorothea von Rodde-Schlözer (1770 in Göttingen – 1825 in Avignon), artist and scholar. * Pierre Grivolas (1823–1906), painter of landscapes, portraits and genre scenes. * Émile Beaussier (1874–1943), painter of maritime scenes and sunny landscapes. * Albert Gleizes (1881–1953), artist, theoretician, philosopher, self-proclaimed founder of Cubism * Yahel Chirinian (born 1970), Contemporary art, contemporary sculptor and installation artistMusic
* Justine Favart (1727–1772), an operatic singer, actress, playwright and dancer. * Albert Guille (1854–1914), operatic tenor * Marie Grisier-Montbazon (1859−1922), a French actress and singer. * Olivier Messiaen (1908–1992), composer, organist, and ornithologist * Jean-Claude Malgoire (1940–2018), oboist and later conductor. * Mireille Mathieu (born 1946), singer * Christophe Rousset (born 1961), harpsichordist and conductor of Baroque music * Peste Noire (formed 2000), a black metal bandScience & Business
* Procopius Waldvogel (15th C.), a medieval printer and silversmith by trade. * Alexis-Hubert Jaillot (1632–1712), geographer and Cartography, cartographer * Pierre-Esprit Radisson (1636/1640–1710), fur trader and explorer * Esprit Pézenas (1692–1776), Jesuit astronomer, hydrographer and mathematician * Honoré Blanc (1736–1801), gunsmith, pioneered the use of interchangeable parts. * Yves Delage (1854–1920), zoologist, worked on invertebrate physiology and anatomy. * Christine Ourmières-Widener (born 1964), CEO of TAP Air Portugal.Public service & the Church
* Pope Gregory XI (ca.1329 – 1378), the seventh and last Avignon pope. * Francis Lambert (ca.1486 – 1530), a Protestant reformer. * Georges d'Armagnac (ca.1501 – 1585), humanist, patron of arts, Cardinal and diplomat * Alexandre de Rhodes (1591–1664), Society of Jesus, Jesuit missionary. * Chevalier de Folard (1669–1752), soldier and military theorist, championed Column (formation), infantry columns * Louis des Balbes de Berton de Crillon, 1st Duke of Mahón, Louis des Balbes de Berton de Crillon (1717–1796), Captain general of the Army. * Étienne-Antoine Boulogne (1747–1825), cleric, List of bishops of Troyes, Bishop of Troyes, 1809–1825. * Pierre Louis Jean Casimir de Blacas (1771–1839), antiquarian, nobleman and diplomat * Joseph Agricol Viala (1778–1793), child hero in the French Revolutionary Army, killed aged 15 * John Stuart Mill (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 * Bernard Kouchner (born 1939), politician and doctor, co-founded Médecins Sans Frontières * Edmond Alphandéry (born 1943), politician, public-sector company executive * Muriel Casals i Couturier (1945–2016), a Catalan economist and academicWriting
* Bertran Folcon d'Avignon (fl. 1202–1233), a Provençal nobleman, troubadour and poet * Abraham Farissol (ca.1451 – ca.1525), a Jewish-Italian geographer, cosmographer, scribe and Jewish polemics and apologetics in the Middle Ages, polemicist. * Marianne-Agnès Falques (1720–1785), author of romance novels and other topical writing * Armand de Pontmartin (1811–1890), journalist, critic and man of letters. * Henri Bosco (1888–1976), writer, nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature four times. * Pierre Boulle (1912–1994), author of the novels: ''The Bridge over the River Kwai'' and ''Planet of the Apes (novel), Planet of the Apes'' * René Girard (1923–2015), polymath, historian, literary critic and Philosophy of social science, philosopher of social science * Daniel Arsand (born 1950), writer and publisher * Mazarine Pingeot (born 1974), writer, journalist and associate Professor of philosophy at the Paris 8 University Vincennes-Saint-Denis, Paris 8 University and daughter of former French President François Mitterrand. * Vincent Almendros (born 1978), writer, winner of the 2015 prix Françoise SaganSport
* Philippe Gache (born 1962), racing driver * Éric Di Meco (born 1963), former footballer with 342 club caps and 23 with France national football team, France * Jean Alesi, (born 1964), professional racing driver for Formula 1 & Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, DTM * Teddy Richert (born 1974), goalkeeper coach and former goalkeeper with 464 club caps * Jean-Christophe Ravier (born 1979), racing driver * Cédric Carrasso (born 1981), former footballer with 379 club caps * Philippe Toledo (born 1983), former footballer with 449 club caps * Camille Ayglon (born 1985), retired handballer with 270 caps with France women's national handball team, France women and an 2016 Summer Olympics, Olympic team silver medallist * Benoît Richaud (born 1988), figure skating choreographer and former competitive ice dancer. * Benoît Paire (born 1989), tennis player, best singles ranking is World No. 18, in January 2016 * Younès Belhanda (born 1990), footballer with over 360 club caps and 58 for Morocco national football team, Morocco * Tony Gigot (born 1990), rugby league footballer with 233 club caps and 19 for France national rugby league team, France * Giuliano Alesi (born 1999), Super Formula Championship, Super Formula driver * Clément Novalak (born 2000), FIA Formula 2 Championship, FIA Formula 2 driver * Pierre-Louis Chovet (born 2002), racing driverSee also
* Avenir Club Avignonnais, a French association football team * Siege of Avignon (737) * Councils of Avignon, councils of the Roman Catholic ChurchNotes
References
Sources
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *External links
Avignon Tourisme website
{{Authority control Avignon, 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