Named the City of the Popes or Altera Roma, Avignon retains the indelible mark of the Popes' stay in the city, which was for a while the capital of the Medieval western world. Today, it is a prestigious cultural capital with its world-renowned Theatre Festival. Brief summary of Avignon 's history and the delimitation of its agglomeration is necessary to understand what follows. Over the years, the city's perimeter grew and successive defenses were modified, except for periods of war or plague when the population clustered around the city's original core, the Rocher des Doms.
Avignon thus had several different ramparts. The Rocher itself probably only served as refuge and surveillance post.
The Avignon Festival has is very popular one and not-to-be-missed cultural happening. It offers a view of contemporary theatrical creation in France and opens up perspectives towards the future and other theatrical traditions. It has a faithful and constant public, more than 100 000 places are sold each year. If it is no longer a moment of effervescence arousing fervor et passion, it still remains a benchmark, an illuminating testimony to the vitality of the arts and living theatre in these uncertain times when cultural values have been put into question. |
Home | 
Add to Favorites | 
Site Map | 
Contact Us 
