AVIGNON

Palais des Papes (papal palace), Avignon, Fr. city, capital of Vaucluse dpartement, Provence-Alpes-Cte-d'Azur region, southeastern France, at a point on the east bank of the Rhne River where the narrow valley opens into a broad delta plain, northwest of Nmes. A stronghold of the Gallic tribe of Cavares that became the Roman city of Avennio, it was a much-fought-over prize, although never of primary importance until it became the capital of the papacy in 1309. At that time, Avignon was not on French soil but belonged to vassals of the pope. Avignon was bought by Clement VI, the fourth of seven Avignon popes, in 1348 from Queen Joan of Provence and remained papal property until the French Revolution. The Avignon papacy, derisively referred to as the second Babylonian captivity of the popes, lasted from 1309 to 1377. Avignon was especially detested by Italians of the papal court. Petrarch described it as where the winter mistral winds blow bitterly, a sewer where all the muck of the universe collects. The papal territory was a place of sure asylum, and the city harboured heretics and criminals, its taverns and houses of pleasure making it a byword for debauch. Avignon was often swept by the plague. Sometimes the routiers (private armies that lived by pillage between mercenary engagements) would descend upon the city, departing only after receiving a papal blessing and large sums of money. Papal legates continued to govern the city until 1791, when the French National Assembly annexed it. In its seizure, there was bloodshed and the interior of the Palais des Papes was wrecked. The palace, a formidable eight-towered fortress on a rock 190 ft (58 m) above the town, was used as a barracks from 1822 to 1906. One of the largest chteaux-forts still standing, it is really two buildings. The Palais Vieux (133442) is austere, the Palais Nouveau (134252) rich with architectural devices and embellishment. There are numerous small chapels and three large chapels decorated with 14th-century frescoes. Alongside the palace is the Romanesque cathedral (12th century) of Notre-Dame-des-Doms, burial place of two of the popes. In the town below there are 16th- and 17th-century houses and six churches dating from the 14th to the 17th century. Two of these are chapels of pnitents noirs, lay groups of 14th-century flagellants who marched hooded and barefoot through the streets and whose membership included kings of France. The ramparts built by the popes still gird the town, 3 miles (5 km) in circuit, with machicolated battlements (projecting turrets), towers, and gates. Four arches of the famed Saint-Bnzet bridge (of the song Sur le pont d'Avignon) still reach out from the town, its Romanesque St. Nicholas Chapel still perched on the second pier. The Rhne currents had defied bridging until St. Bnzet and his disciples built this one in 117788. Broken several times, it was abandoned in 1680. People did dance there, as in the songnot on it but underneath it, on the le de la Barthelasse. A suspension bridge and span now cross the Rhne downstream. Avignon has an active local market and diversified industries that include wine, flour, oil, leather, soap, and fabrics. Madder, a dye source, was introduced in 1756 and was for many years the area's important money crop; it is still cultivated. The summer arts festival includes plays acted out of doors at the papal palace, and son et lumire (sound and light) spectacles recounting Avignon's history. Pop. (1982) 75,178.