Avignon

 We had hoped to outrun the advertised storm . We were wrong.  So very wrong.

No matter. By chance, we met a couple of Grimsby trawlermen on leave, who, for the price of a pint were willing to lend us their protective gear.

And so, fully kitted out, (smelling faintly of haddock) and clutching homemade (and frankly useless) lightning conductors, we headed into town.

Avignon (almost inevitably a UNESCO site) is famous for, amongst other things, a bridge that sparked a song, and more contentiously, hosting several popes at the same time. (possibly pseudo-popes, who knows?)

Here's the bridge:

The sharper eyed viewer may have noticed that the bridge ends mid- river.....

(Early evidence of French  workshy-ness, and the willingness of the UNESCO team to be hoodwinked) 

After wading through the town for a while, we arrived at the Papal Palace. 

In 1309, the then pope, Clement V refused to move to Rome and instead set up shop in Avignon, where for the next 67 years, no fewer than 7 popes (all French) and a couple of 'anti-popes' carried out the business of running the Church. (And trying to get hold of the builder to finish that bridge......)

The Papal Palace is, as you might expect, 'palatial'.

Even centuries on, and in a torrential downpour, it is an impressive space, especially when combined with the ongoing art installation.