Avignon

:For the Municipality in Quebec, see Avignon Regional County Municipality, Quebec.

Miscellaneous

A famous theater festival is held annually in Avignon. Founded in 1947, the Avignon Festival comprises both traditional theatrical events and other art forms such as dance, music and cinema, making good use of the town's historical monuments. Taking place every summer, approximately 100,000 people attend.

Related Topics:
Theater - Festival - 1947

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Avignon is commemorated by the French children's song, "Sur le pont d'Avignon" ("On the bridge of Avignon"), which describes folk dancing. The bridge of the song is the Saint Bénezet bridge, over the Rhône River, of which only four arches (out of the initial 22) starting from Avignon side remain. In fact people would have danced beneath the bridge (sous le pont) where it crossed an island (Ile de Barthelasse) on its way to Villeneuve-lès-Avignon. The bridge was initially built between 1171 and 1185, with an original length of some 900 m (2950 ft), but it suffered frequent collapses during floods and had to be reconstructed several times. Several arches were already missing (and spanned by wooden sections) before the remainder was damaged beyond repair in 1660.

Related Topics:
Sur le pont d'Avignon - Bridge - Saint Bénezet bridge - Rhône River - Ile de Barthelasse - Villeneuve-lès-Avignon - 1171 - 1185 - 1660

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Famous residents include (born in Avignon)

• Jean Alesi, race car driver
• Pierre Boulle, author of The Bridge on the River Kwai and Planet of the Apes
• Alexandre de Rhodes (1591-1660), Jesuit missionary
• Mireille Mathieu, singer
• Bernard Kouchner, politician
• Henri Bosco, writer
• Joseph Vernet, painter

Twin towns

Avignon is twinned with:

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• Siena, Italy
• Wetzlar, Germany
• Colchester, United Kingdom
• New Haven, Connecticut, United States
• Diourbel, Senegal
• Tarragona, Spain
• Tortosa, Spain
• Guanajuato, Mexico