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Graham & Jane
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Location Date Paris 1476745200 Cannes 1476054000 Avignon 
1475708400 Tournon-Sur-Rhone 1475622000 Lyon 1475535600 Tournus 1475362800 Chalon-Sur-Saone 1475276400 Conflans Sainte Honorine 1475103600 Rouen 1475017200 Normandy 1475017200 Caudebec-En-Caux 1474844400 Vernon 1474758000
Today was a full on day, we had docked in Avignon after sailing most of the night. It was time for some more highlights of the tour.
We started the day with a short bus ride to the site of the Pont Du Gard, one of the grand sites (there are 38) of France, built by the romans in the 1st Century AD it is part of the aqueduct to take clean water from the spring at Uzes to the roman town in Nimes. I will not try to do it justice with words as you can see from the pictures it is spectacular. Given this is almost 2000 years old it is a remarkable structure, our guide was quick to point out in the recent floods many modern bridges up and down stream were damaged or washed away, yet the Pont Du Gard survived intact.
We then went to the small town of Uzes which is the home to the Duke and Duchess of Uzes, one of the oldest and possibly wealthiest families in France, the family have lived in the town for over 1000yrs, obviously playing the right political cards at the right time. We were told the Duke actually has a legitimate claim to the French crown should it ever be reinstated. You can tell this town has serious money invested in it, unlike many other towns we have passed through on this part of our journey, all the houses and shops are or have been restored sympathetically. Even the local real estate agent is Sotherbys!!.
Back to the ship for lunch to get ready for the 2&1/2 hr walking tour of the city of Avignon, once the home of the pope. The pope in the early 1400's decided to move out of Rome, which was quite normal in those days and was persuaded to move to Avignon, where the magnificent palace was constructed. This palace became the home to 7 popes before the papacy moved back to Rome, each pope adding or modifying the palace in some way. Ironically no pope has visited the place since, despite lots of requests from the town.
In the evening we were treated to a short cruise up the river to see the famous bridge which was the subject of the childrens song "sur le pont d'avignon", with half of it washed away many years ago it is still a great sight. Especially if you remember the song from your childhood.
We started the day with a short bus ride to the site of the Pont Du Gard, one of the grand sites (there are 38) of France, built by the romans in the 1st Century AD it is part of the aqueduct to take clean water from the spring at Uzes to the roman town in Nimes. I will not try to do it justice with words as you can see from the pictures it is spectacular. Given this is almost 2000 years old it is a remarkable structure, our guide was quick to point out in the recent floods many modern bridges up and down stream were damaged or washed away, yet the Pont Du Gard survived intact.
We then went to the small town of Uzes which is the home to the Duke and Duchess of Uzes, one of the oldest and possibly wealthiest families in France, the family have lived in the town for over 1000yrs, obviously playing the right political cards at the right time. We were told the Duke actually has a legitimate claim to the French crown should it ever be reinstated. You can tell this town has serious money invested in it, unlike many other towns we have passed through on this part of our journey, all the houses and shops are or have been restored sympathetically. Even the local real estate agent is Sotherbys!!.
Back to the ship for lunch to get ready for the 2&1/2 hr walking tour of the city of Avignon, once the home of the pope. The pope in the early 1400's decided to move out of Rome, which was quite normal in those days and was persuaded to move to Avignon, where the magnificent palace was constructed. This palace became the home to 7 popes before the papacy moved back to Rome, each pope adding or modifying the palace in some way. Ironically no pope has visited the place since, despite lots of requests from the town.
In the evening we were treated to a short cruise up the river to see the famous bridge which was the subject of the childrens song "sur le pont d'avignon", with half of it washed away many years ago it is still a great sight. Especially if you remember the song from your childhood.
- comments
Jen Pity we can't all do that!
Kate and Celeste Wow the duct is really impressive!