Hi everyone. I've set up base camp for a
week in the southern French city of Nimes. Having explored the local neighbourhood
and also the city centre for Roman ruins, I decided today to venture a little further
afield and explore the historic city of Avignon. Little did I know my arrival would coincide
with a rather important local event. Hi everyone. My name is Scott. Welcome to Planes, Trains, Everything and welcome to Avignon. I have never been here before, but I've heard so much about it. Today
we're going to explore this place. This is the 14th century wall and it
rings the city which is pretty impressive. I don't really know where I'm going. I'm
just really just going to wing it today, but I'm sure we're going
to see some amazing sights. There's a street down here called, if I'm
pronouncing it right, Rue des Teinturiers, and it's an historical cobblestone area, loads of cafes, restaurants and theatres as well. Wow! No shortage of shows
to choose from, is there? Okay, next thing is the indoor
market, which are always loads of fun. It's just down here somewhere. Aha! So you ready? Let's go in. The French do love their cheese, don't they? They love their seafood as well.
Cheese and fish! I love France. I could spend way too much time
in there. What a fantastic place. I'm not lost. I've just misplaced myself.
You can't really be lost in a walled city. Hmm... so where exactly am I? This is actually like the Edinburgh Fringe Festival - full of street performers and
music and it's a really good vibe here. I'm gonna walk along the wall for about
a kilometre or two but on the shady side. My arrival into Avignon seems to have
corresponded with the Festival of Avignon. That's why the place is absolutely
jumping with performers. I just saw a catalogue back there it reminded me of the phone books you used to get years ago. It was massive and it was free, and it was
printed in colour. Must cost an absolute fortune. This 14th century wall is apparently the second wall to be built here. The first
one was more or less demolished. There is a little bit of it and I'm
hoping to try and find it later on. [ car horn honks. Crowd jeers at the driver ] Only the French would not hesitate
to drive through a crowd of people. I'm not actually sure where these steps lead to, but there's dozens of people heading up here so I thought there must be something worthwhile. I always seem to find steps, don't I? According to my map there's a lookout
up here and I guess if you're going to put a lookout somewhere, you do it
at the top of a hill, don't you. I know that from the Tour de France. I thought there might have been a better panoramic views of the Rhone River, but not from here. At least I got to see Mont Ventoux which
for a Tour de France fan, that's a big deal. I do like the occasional grotto, don't you? It's probably closed for
health and safety reasons. Some of those steps looked a bit precarious. That is Avignon Cathedral. I was hoping to go in and have a look around, but it's a Sunday and from the sounds of
things there's a mass or a service being held, so the chances of me getting in,
I think, are relatively slim. The trees here are full of cicadas and that
brings back memories of my childhood in Sydney, Australia, although when you live there and you
hear this like months on end it drives you nuts. It really does. I remember my neighbour used to get so annoyed with the cicadas he'll go out and spray them with a high pressure hose and that worked for about five minutes and then they'd be back at it again. They just drive you loony. Even in Avignon.. ... and no I'm not gonna go on it. One cheese and ham crepe. I've only ever had one before in my life and that
was in Decin, in czechia. It was about six, seven, eight weeks ago something like that and I thought what a bizarre
thing, but it's actually not too bad. Now that I know that they're palatable, wherever I go I can always have a jambon fromage crepe. Again I've got no idea where this
goes. It's going downhill which makes me think eventually
I should come to the river. Most of the shops around here seem to be selling fragrances, for example, lavender in bags and scented soap. Yeah so I bought some. It was very nice. I do like the citrus smells. They're they're fantastic. Hey, and here's a tunnel.
You know how I love tunnels. This is probably the world's
shortest tunnel. Look at this! Okay, just up here is La Pont de Avignon, the ruins our 12th century bridge and it's
one of the sort of symbols of the city and I think it's important
we go and have a look at it, but there seems to be a gate and I'm
wondering if there's an admission fee. No admission fee, but there was a security
tent and that's possibly what I saw. How green is the River Rhone. It must have been amazing in the Middle
Ages to approach Avignon across this bridge and look at this wall and
the cathedrals and think... Wow! This part of town is nuts - so busy. I looked at the cost of a gelato back there at €6. Eh... no. And the last thing I want to see here
in Avignon is down here somewhere. It used to be a lot bigger,
but now it's very, very small and you can actually walk past
it without realizing what it is. Where is it? It's around here somewhere. I'm
in the right place. Aha! Found it. This is the only remaining part of the original 13th century wall which used to go around Avignon. It's been replaced by the large one from the 14th century which we explored
at the start of this video. There's not much left of it, is there? So guys what did I think of my
first ever visit to Avignon? Absolutely beautiful, and I only scratched the surface. I will have to come back and explore this
place in detail, but it was absolutely amazing, but also very, very, busy apparently down to the
fact that it's Arts Festival time here in Avignon. I times that well, didn't I? Anyway guys, thanks very much for
coming along with me on this adventure. Hope you appreciated it
and I'll see you next time.
