It was Assumption Day, a national holiday in France, so what better day to go to the weekly market at Villenueve-les-Avignon … along with everyone else who would normally be working that day! To make matters a little worse, we started out late, as my tutor and driver for the day Christine had not slept well the night before.

It’s a short trip across the Rhône, the town was on the French side when the popes ruled Avignon in the 14th Century, and there was a space in the parking area waiting for our little Skoda.

Christine was out for vegetable shopping, while I was out for a look … and cheese and bread and French practice … so we trekked together for a while, then took turns at minding the trolley and bags. It is an open air market, with a huge variety of mostly local fruit, vegetables and other produce like meats and fish, all under big umbrellas, and with ice as appropriate! And over all loomed the towers of the Castle and Fort of Saint Andre.

Read more on the Papacy in Avignon
More about the bridge – Pont Saint-Bénézet

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