The CCP aire we were on last night at Fontaine de Vaucluse was completely full by dusk, mostly French, German and Dutch motorhomes, just one other UK van that I could see.
We went for a walk into the village last night and had a wander around before opting for a beer in one of the bars.
When we got back one the French motorhomers was causing a rumpus that involved most of the other French congregating for a discussion with much arm waving.
Us Brits kept a diplomatic distance.
He had a problem with his motorhome, I don't know what it was but it continued this morning when he blocked the exit for about half an hour, and this required another congregation for a discussion with again much arm waving.
.
Fortunately we weren't ready to leave and he'd gone by the time we were.
On the way to Avignon we encountered a petrol station with no diesel, a low underpass we couldn't fit through and Google maps threw a wobbly.
But we arrived eventually and found free parking by the river Rhone overlooking the famous Saint Benezet Bridge and the city skyline on the opposite bank.
I'm so glad we made the effort to get here.
It's a very beautiful small city, easy to get around and with some great architecture and historic buildings.
So I wandered around with that song going round in my head from school days, you know the one, Sur le pont d’Avignon. . . . . .
The song is based on Saint Benezet Bridge.
I think every school gets it children learning and singing it for reasons that are not altogether clear, not to me anyway. I certainly can't remember being given any explanation for it.
The Saint Benezet Bridge was built in 1185 and was the only crossing point on the Rhone between Lyon and the Mediterranean.
So I expect the toll collector became a wealthy man.
It was originally build with 22 arches but was swept away by floods, more than once, rebuilt and then dismantled, before being rebuilt again, then washed away again.
Today it has just four arches and a chapel to Saint Nicholas.
After an enjoyable day in Avignon, we headed a bit further west to the the village of Remoulins.
The attraction here is just a short walk away from our overnight parking place, the ancient Roman Pont du Gard which we will explore tomorrow morning.
Here are some photos of Avignon . . . . . . . .
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| Yaay, door of the day |
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| The river Gardon at Remoulins |
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| I think this is the remains of the old bridge over the river Gardon at Remoulins |
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| and the new bridge |
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