Avignon, France

As a former papal city the town’s pride over its history can be seen in the three papal keys on its coat of arms. The old castle thing listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the broken bridge thing, and indoor markets stocked with colourful fruits are all icons of Avignon. I didn’t study the history of the Holy Roman Empire so I’m not going to comment on the political nature of the church during the Middle Ages, but I can show you around its ramparts.

The French Riviera (Côte d’Azure) has been continuously inhabited for thousands of years but Avignon kept its fortifications intact to this day so we could admire the sheer scale of the stone structure that kept seven popes safe. The grounds of the Palais de Papes and the cathedral inside can all be accessed free of charge. Be sure to head up to the beautiful Parc Palais des Papes for a view of the River Rhône and the Pont d’Avignon – that broken bridge.

From there, you can walk down a long flight of stairs to reach the Pont d’Avignon and pay to walk on a bridge to nowhere. A little foolish if you’d ask me. Loop back around to the back of the papal palace and take a stroll on Rue Gérard Philippe for an ice cream and the sun, but eat your ice cream in the shade before stepping out for a tan.

The rest of Avignon is just average medieval France built on the irrational layout of Roman streets. Though similar to other cities in the area, do have a walk around and you might be surprised at how many spots there are to take interesting photos. When you’re done, spend the rest of the evening at Pont du Gard.