The last day of our bike tour and we return to Avignon. We landed in the middle of a protest!! Something to do with safety on bikes which necessitated the cyclists to be wearing very little. Just to clarify that the 3 of us were not involved!!!
I had fallen off my bike earlier so was nursing a sore leg, shoulder and thumb but still managed to make it to the Place des Corps Saints to have a light lunch. We then strolled to the Museum of Contemporary Art and up to Place de l’Horlage to see the Pope’s Palace. Such grand buildings.
History of Avignon – In 1305 Clement V, born in the south of France, was elected Pope, and decided to reign from Avignon, whose lands already belonged to the Popes. For the next 67 years and for 7 Popes altogether, all of whom were French, Avignon was capital of the catholic world. The popes have since left but their heritage remains, the largest gothic palace in Europe, the Palais des Papes, was built during this time, as were the 14th century ramparts that encircle the medieval centre. Just as famous is Avignon’s 12th century Pont d’Avignon bridge. Spanning only a fifth of the way over the Rhone, most of the bridge was washed away by the mighty waters of the Rhone River centuries ago, and never rebuilt.
Avignon is a great pedestrian-friendly town: an endless ever-changing labyrinth of cobbled streets lined with boutique shops, ice cream parlours, intersecting at quiet squares with their quiet cafes and great restaurants.
We had dinner at Bibendum Restaurant, 83 Rue Joseph-Vernot, Avignon, and it was extremely good. In the heart of the historic building where the restaurant is located, there is stylish appeal and heritage details (former cloisters). We found this restaurant, which includes a wine bar, a cocktail bar and an inner courtyard with a patio; bliss during long summer evenings. Mathieu Desmarest, chef of the star restaurant Pollen, devises the menu. The contemporary repertory is prepared at the last minute with fresh, seasonal ingredients and a weakness for Mediterranean accents: roast white asparagus, light foaming Comté, torrefied cumin and pancetta; pearlescent cod, purée of sweet potatoes and beurre blanc; apricot and almond financier dessert. Food, wine and service were excellent.
