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AvignonFrench words: Avignonkeywords: human heritage, southern france, tourist resort, town related topics: Pope palace , Avignon bridge related web sites: http://www.ot-avignon.fr , http://www.avignon.fr , http://www.festival-avignon.com , http://www.avignon-tourisme.com explanation: Located in southern France on the bank of Rhone river, Avignon had been a small town in the shadow of other big Roman cities like Orange, Arles and Nimes nearby. In 737, Charles Martel destroyed Avignon because it had supported Saracens while in 1226 by Louis VIII because of Catharism. Avignon seizes a chance when the pontificate moved there in 1309. Enlisted to human heritage since 1995, Avignon is the capital of Vaucluse prefecture and the population 86000. It organizes "Festival of Avignon" each summer. Avignon bridgeFrench words: Pont d'Avignon , Pont Saint-Benézetalternative words: Pont d'Avignon, Saint Benezet bridge keywords: human heritage, southern france, tourist resort related topics: Avignon related web sites: http://www.avignon.fr/fr/culture/musees/pont.php , http://www.romanes.com/Avignon/SaintBenezet/ , http://www.avignon-et-provence.com/avignon/monuments/stBenezet/ explanation: Though there had existed already a Roman bridge over the Rhone at Avignon, after its disappearance, there was no more bridge between Lyon and Mediterranean Sea In order to remedy this situation, Saint Benezet collected donations to build a new one. This bridge, achieved in 1185 had 22 arches and 4m width, not enough to dance in circle contrary to a popular song. It was destroyed in 1226 during a crusade against Cathars by King Louis VIII, but soon replaced by another with Saint Nicolas Chapel over deck. Azay-le-rideau castleFrench words: Château d'Azay-le-Rideaualternative words: Château d'Azay-le-Rideau, Azay-le-Rideau keywords: castle, human heritage, loire region, tourist resort related topics: Tours related web sites: http://www.linternaute.com/sortir/chateaux-loire/7.shtml , http://www.loire-france.com/visites/chateaux/azay-le-rideau/ , http://www.casteland.com/pfr/chateau/centre/indreloire/azay/azay_hist.htm explanation: There had existed already a medieval castle on an islet inside Indre, tributary of Loire, since 11th century, but the crown prince (future Charles VII) being insulted by the garrison of the castle in 1418, he ordered to burn it out. Later, King's treasurer and Tours' mayor, Gilles Berthelot, began to build a new castle in 1518, inspired by Blois castle. Though, Gilles, being accused of a fraud, couldn't add the eastern wing, its stairwell is one of the master pieces among French renaissance style castles. | |