Explore the Fascinating History of Avignon
During your stay at Benvengudo Hotel you should take some time to explore the fascinating history of Provence. Today we visit Avignon; the city that once served as the heart of Medieval Christendom.
Drive to Avignon
Benvengudo Hotel is located in the quaint Provençal village of Les Beaux-de-Provence. As luck would have it, this puts you within a 40 minute driving distance of Avignon; a historic settlement that was originally established during the age of High Antiquity.
The origins of Avignon
Avignon was established as a trading post by the Phoenicians; an ancient civilisation who lived along the coast of modern Lebanon. The city was eventually conquered by the Romans, who turned Avignon into a flourishing hub of Imperial trade, before it was overrun by barbarians when the regional power lost its grip on its Western territories.
Seat of the Papacy
Yet Avignon is most famous for its connection with the Catholic Church; specifically the Popes of the 14th Century. In 1309, Pope Clement V decided to move the seat of the Papacy from Rome to Avignon, which became a territory of the Papal States in 1348.
What has become known as the “Avignon Papacy” lasted until 1377, when Pope Gregory XI moved the Papal capital back to Rome. This created a “Great Schism” within the highest levels of the Catholic Church, which spawned a series of “Antipopes” who continued to reside in Avignon until 1417.
Avignon remained a territory of the Papal States until the onset of the French Revolution, when it was incorporated into France. It faded into obscurity in the 19th Century before re-emerging as a cultural capital in the 20th Century, when it became the cradle of the Félibrige movement; a revival of Provençal literature.
Discover Papal Avignon
The city’s turbulent history with the Catholic Church has made it a popular tourist attraction. More than 650,000 tourists flock to Avignon every year to visit the Palace of the Popes; the home of the Pontiffs who anointed Avignon the capital of Christendom.
The Palace of the Popes is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known as the largest gothic palace in the world, the monument has a range of fascinating attractions for you to explore including the Pope’s private chambers, stunning frescoes, four impressive towers and an exhibition centre.
Yet the Palace wasn’t the only mark the Popes of the 14th Century left on Avignon. They constructed a number of monuments that still stand today including the 14th Century city walls and the Petit Palais, which is located at the far end of the square of the Palace of the Popes.
Benvengudo Hotel
Benvengudo Hotel is a 4 star luxury boutique hotel located in Les Baux-de-Provence. Set in an authentic Provencal country house, its idyllic location offers a perfect base from which to explore this remarkable region in the South of France.
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