Avignon, South of France | A Master’s Travel Guide

🌉 The Legendary "Broken Bridge" (Pont d'Avignon) 🏰 Built in the 12th century after a shepherd boy received divine inspiration! 🎶 Immortalized by the French folk song "Sur le Pont d'Avignon"—imagine locals dancing on its arches! 📸 Fun fact: This iconic ruin (now just 4 arches) starred in a Chinese drama! 👑 The Palais des Papes (Pope’s Palace) ⛪ Home to 7 popes in the 14th century—a Gothic fortress with: 8 towering spires and labyrinthine halls 52m-long Grand Chapel (gold-leaf ceilings!) Stunning frescoes in the Saint John Chapel 🎧 Pro tip: Rent the excellent Chinese audio guide! 🏰 Medieval Ramparts 🧱 5km of intact 14th-century walls—climb for panoramic views of the Rhône River! 🌧️ Weather-worn stones whisper 800 years of history (UNESCO-listed since 1995). ⛪ Notre-Dame des Doms Cathedral 🔔 35 named bells chime from its Gothic tower—each with a unique voice! 🌟 Don’t miss the golden Virgin Mary statue glittering atop the spire. 🎭 Avignon Festival (July) 🎪 Europe’s most avant-garde theater fest since 1947! 30+ plays performed in streets & palaces Actors literally burst from alleyways—magical chaos! 🌿 Beyond Avignon: Provence’s Jewels 🚗 Day trips to: Gordes: A clifftop stone village Roussillon: Ochre-red houses in a Martian landscape Sénanque Abbey: Lavender fields framing a 12th-century monastery 🍷 Sip rosé at vineyards along the way! #AvignonDreams #ProvenceGuide #FrenchGetaway