Day 44 Monday 30th June 2008

Weather sunny and hot. We drove across to visit the Musee de la Lavande near Coustellet to the east of Avignon. We did not go in the museum itself but only the shop. I was very disappointed in their lavender field as it was very small and the lavender was small as well. The lavender must be grown elsewhere. Perhaps we shall see some another day. 

After that we drove on to Vaison la Romaine which is further north.  This is another Roman town. The town is in two parts – the medieval part on a hilltop on one side of the river and the modern part and the Roman part on the other. When we got there it was closed for lunch but we could see most of it from outside the railings. There was a paved street with arcaded shops along it and a set of baths and a house. Over the other side of the town square were other remains including more houses and a theatre with the stage at the top of the hill rather than the other way round. We could see most of it without going in. As we left, after the obligatory ice cream, they were just about opening up again.

We drove home a slightly different way and went and found the Intermarche at St. Remy to shop for food before returning to the house.

Start mileage  14999		Finish   15115			Miles travelled = 116 
								Total miles = 3630

Day 45 Tuesday 1st July 2008

Another hot sunny day. We drove into Avignon and, after a short drive through the narrow streets of the old town, managed to find the free park and ride at Places des Italiens outside the old walls. After a coffee at a café we went to the Palais des Papes. It was an interesting tour with free audio guide. There were about 25 rooms to be seen, with bits of history thrown in. Just over halfway round we came across a terrace café high up on the roof of the palace, so we had lunch. There were also toilets at various points around, each with an anteroom with canned drink vending machines.

When we had finished we walked down to the bridge (Pont Saint Benezet). It was built 1177-1185 on the site of an earlier Roman bridge and using some of its piles and footings. It was a long bridge with about 20 piers, as the River Rhone was wide at that point with various little islands. Much later on the various islands were linked together to form one large island so the bridge now seems to be pointing at this island (which looks just as though it is the far bank). The first bridge was stone piers and wooden decking. Later the bridge was rebuilt with stone arches. The River Rhone can be very destructive and there have been many floods. The bridge was broken and repaired several times and was finally abandoned in the 17th century in favour of shorter and higher bridges.

After walking on the bridge and the bit of available ramparts, we went back into the centre to get an icecream and visit the tourist office to get a town plan and to ask if it was possible to walk round the city walls. Unfortunately the answer was in the negative. We then walked back through the pedestrianised streets to the park and ride stop and returned to the car. After that it was only the short drive back to St. Remy. 

Start mileage  15115			Finish  15145		Miles travelled = 30
								Total miles = 3660