Cycle de visites guidées "Avignon à travers l'Histoire"

So join us and let us tell you about Avignon!

You’ll find here:
– Saturday, September 13 at 14:30 p.m.: Avignon before the Popes, from Prehistory to the XNUMXth century
Avignon was founded 5000 years ago on the summit of the Rocher des Doms, overlooking the river of which it became the master city. For centuries, at the confluence of the Rhône and Durance, it was an important port in the trade circuits between the Mediterranean basin and northern Europe. Thanks to the Saint-Bénezet bridge, it controlled river traffic. In turn Phoenician, Greek, Cavare, and Roman, it suffered barbarian and Saracen invasions, becoming the capital of an increasingly powerful county until it became the residence of the Popes.
This visit will retrace the destiny and evolution of the site and the city, from the first human settlements attested more than 5000 years ago to the beginning of the XNUMXth century, on the eve of the arrival of the Popes.

– Saturday, October 11 at 14:30 p.m.: Avignon in the time of the popes
March 9, 1309: Pope Clement V stops in Avignon, it is the beginning of a period of great prosperity for the city. But what was this little Provençal city like at the dawn of the XNUMXth century? Who populated it? How did we live there? What were we doing there? And what were the repercussions of such an installation?
Stroll the cobbled streets of Avignon and embark on a real journey through time, discovering the many medieval monuments that make the charm of our city. This guided tour includes the UNESCO perimeter and a visit to the famous Palais des Papes, the largest Gothic palace in the world!
The guided tour does not include the gardens of the Palais des Papes.

– Sunday, November 16 at 14:30 p.m.: Avignon in the time of the legates
Avignon, an extraordinary city in more ways than one, experienced its boom in the 14th century when the Popes made it Roma Nuova.
While we all know the medieval monuments of the Pont Saint Bénezet and the Palais des Papes, listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites, how many know that the Provençal city holds hidden treasures and that during the 16th and 17th centuries it was a prosperous city, a center of art where Italian and French styles mingled. It is this period following the popes of Avignon, the presence of the legates, that we invite you to discover. During this walk, you will discover the splendors of the Jesuit churches, you will enter a 17th century mansion, you will appreciate the paintings of Mignard and Parrocel.

– Sunday, December 7 at 14:30 p.m.: 1791 and Avignon became French
In 1789, the French Revolution broke out in Paris. Little by little, it spread to all the territories of the Kingdom. In 1790, while Avignon and the Comtat Venaissin were still property of the papacy, a part of the population welcomed the new patriotic ideals and saw in them an opportunity to free themselves from papal tutelage. The people of Avignon rose up, expelled the vice-legate, and demanded the reunification of their city with France. The unrest turned into civil war between revolutionary Avignon and the Comtat Venaissin, loyal to the Pope. The annexation to France was confirmed in September 1791. After 500 years of papal presence, the Comtat became French. Avignon became the capital of the Vaucluse district. But the unrest did not subside, and the bloody excesses of the Terror did not spare Avignon. The Pope accepted, by the Treaty of Tolentino, the definitive reunion of Avignon and the Comtat with France.

– Saturday, January 24 at 2:30 p.m.: Avignon in the 19th century
In the aftermath of the Revolution, Avignon was still a city confined within its ramparts, nestled at the foot of the Palace, the former papal residence. Having become French and lost its status as the capital of Christendom, the newly established prefecture of Vaucluse was about to undergo a transformation. Major construction projects were launched, driven by the arrival of the railway, changes in transportation, and population growth. From the train station to the Place de l'Horloge, where a new town hall and the opera house were built, the Cours Jean Jaurès and the Rue de la République formed the city's backbone, while the palace and former churches served as barracks.
Your guide will explain how our city has adapted and modernized while preserving its identity and rich heritage.

– Saturday, February 21 at 2:30 p.m.: Avignon during World War II
“On the eve of the Second World War, Avignon had approximately 60000 inhabitants. From 1942 onwards, the total occupation of the territory would considerably change the lives of Avignon's inhabitants, who until then had been spared from the fighting. The Germans, and in their wake their collaborators, took over various buildings in the city. But Avignon also became an active center of the Resistance and the scene of heavy bombing raids from 1944 onwards. From the train station, a strategic objective, to the Palais des Papes, a shelter during air raid alerts, come and discover how the people of Avignon lived through the war.”

– Saturday, March 14 at 14:30 p.m.: Avignon from the 50s to the present day
Although Avignon emerged weakened and scarred by the bombings of 1944 and two years of occupation, it was nonetheless determined to recover and look to the future. After the hard times came the time for reconstruction. From the 50s onward, the city experienced significant population growth. New construction projects were launched, and the former papal capital took on a modern face. Entire neighborhoods were rebuilt, and others sprang up, constantly expanding the urban area. But it also had to face economic and societal choices and challenges: preserve and restore, or raze and rebuild? How to adapt its topography to new residents, new needs and services, and the development of transportation, with the rise of cars and trains? How to open up the city center and create connections with the surrounding areas?
During this visit, which concludes this fascinating History cycle, you will explore the final chapter of our city's epic story. While preserving its rich heritage and past, the city is resolutely looking towards the 21st century to become an exceptional city.

Reservations possible at www.avignon-tourisme.com

Duration: 2 hours – capacity limited to 25 people.

Arrive 15 minutes before the start of the tour.

The visit takes place outdoors.

Pets are not allowed.

IH: visits are not accessible to people with reduced mobility.

Prices: from €8 to €10 except for Avignon in the time of the popes, prices: from €11,50 to €16,50 (palace entry included without the papal gardens).