Voyages around France: Sunflowers and a visit to Roquemaure....

I guess you would call this guy an MBM...Master Bubble Maker

Avignon - One very ornate and fancy merry-go-round

Avignon - The walls of the buildings were covered with posters of all the plays and performances taking place during the festival.

Inside the 13th century Collegiate church in Roquemaure

Collegiate church

City Hall - Roquemaure

Fortress ruins in Roquemaure....if I was a resident I think I would be a little concerned about the structural integrity of the place.

This past Friday I visited the town of Roquemaure which is about a 15 minute drive north of Avignon. The area which borders the Rhone river is dotted with vineyards and fields of sunflowers. Not many sunflower fields where I come from so this was really my first time seeing them up close. What I noticed was that all those sunflowers slowly moving with the breeze seemed to be quietly and curiously staring right at me. The only thing I could do was admire them and stare right back....and of course take a few photos in the process.

Then it was on to Roquemaure which is a town of about 5500 people which sits right next to the Rhone river. This was my first visit there and it seemed like a nice place, busy with people coming and going from the many small shops in and around the center of the town. The area is known for its very fine wine as well as the annual "La Festo di Poutoun" which means the Festival of Lovers and Kissers. The festival takes place every year around St. Valentine's Day and attracts about 20,000 visitors. During the festival many of the area residents are all dressed up in Victorian era costumes.

Friday night we traveled to Avignon and went inside the old walled part of the city. This section of the city is located right next to the Rhone river and is still encircled by walls from the medieval age and within those walls over 12,000 people still reside. From 1309 until 1377 it was essentially the seat of the Catholic church because the pope decided to reside there. Seven popes called Avignon their home until 1378 when the papacy moved back to Rome.

The Festival of Avignon which runs for 3 weeks started the day after our Friday night visit. Already the city was gearing up for its huge arts, culture and theatre festival and many people were already flowing into town.

Saturday we traveled to the villages of Saignon and Roussillon and I'll post some photos of that trip
later in the week.