The Medieval Papal City

Avignon, a famous tourist city in the south of France, is most prominent for the city walls that encircle the old town, stretching five kilometers in total, all built from massive squared stones, very similar to the feeling of the ancient cities of Xi'an and Pingyao in Shanxi. Here, one is not limited to visiting the ancient sites and museums, but can also stroll through the historic alleys, exploring the hidden treasures scattered throughout every corner of the city. As the largest Gothic building of the Middle Ages, the Papal Palace witnessed the wealth and power of the Catholic Church in the Kingdom of France at one time. The Petit Palais Museum, an extraordinary art museum located in front of the Archbishop's Palace, spans most of the 14th to 17th centuries in its construction, providing a perfect environment for displaying its numerous masterpieces. The Broken Bridge/Saint Bénézet Bridge, widely known for a famous nursery rhyme, once spanned the Rhône River and served as a link between the Papal territory and the Kingdom of France. Of the twenty-two arches of this monumental building, only four remain today, with the rest having been swept away by the raging river centuries ago.