We began a recent Tuesday morning with a trip to the north to nearby Vaison-la-Romaine to attend its weekly market and check out the many Roman ruins present in that city. Vaison-la-Romaine’s weekly market is second in size only to Carpentras, where we are staying.

Though we had been in and around Avignon in the car many times when we went to church or were on our way to other spots, we had yet to stop and visit the city and the Palais des Papes. We spent a sweltering afternoon walking through the crowded streets of Avignon (especially crowded due to the annual Avignon theater festival which takes place during the month of July) and walking in the steps of the Popes of the 14th century. The Palais des Papes is a considered one of the most important medieval Gothic buildings in existence. Unfortunately once the Popes abandoned Avignon and returned to Rome, it was poorly kept and then completely ransacked during the French Revolution. Still, it is an impressive, massive building.

The annual theatre festival brought a lot of visitors and street performers to the city.

We even caught a view of the famed Pont d’Avignon on our way into town. We meant to go back after the Palace of the Popes but by then we were too hot and tired.