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Avignon, Vaucluse (France).
The Pont Saint-Bénezet, also known as the Pont d'Avignon, is a famous medieval bridge in the town of Avignon, in southern France.
The bridge originally spanned the Rhône River between Avignon and Villeneuve-lès-Avignon on the left bank. It was built between 1171 and 1185, with an original length of some 900 m (2950 ft), but it suffered frequent collapses during floods and had to be reconstructed several times. Over the centuries, it became increasingly perilous as arches collapsed and were replaced by rickety wooden sections.
The bridge was finally put out of use by a catastrophic flood in 1668, which swept away much of the structure. It was subsequently abandoned and no more attempts were made to repair it. Since then, its surviving arches have successively collapsed or been demolished, and only four of the initial 22 arches remain intact today.
The bridge was also the site of devotion by the Rhône boatmen, whose patron saint was Saint Nicholas. They initially worshipped in the Chapel of Saint Nicholas on the bridge itself (where Saint Bénézet's body was also interred) but the increasing dilapidation of the bridge led to the clergy refusing to preside over services for fear of a total collapse. A new chapel was erected on dry land in the 18th century at the foot of the bridge, on the Avignon side.
More info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pont_Saint-B%C3%A9nezet
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La reflexión: www.santimb.com/2012/01/lumiere-dans-l-bleue.html
Picture uploaded by: . SantiMB . - View this picture on Flickr Picture taken on: august 16, 2011 Taken in: Avignon, Vaucluse | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur - France 5341
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Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur |
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Le Pont du Gard, Côte d'Azur, Cigale, Hôtel Crillon le Brave (Relai & Château), Le Verdon, Le Luberon, Le Mont-ventoux, Lavande, kartpostal, Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur, Cathédrale Saint-Trophime d'Arles, Le Palais des Papes, Abbaye de Sénanque, Moulins de Provence, Dentelles de Montmirail, Abbaye de Montmajour, MuCEM - Musée des civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée, HÔTEL RESTAURANT DU LACHENS, Théâtre Antique d'Orange, Paysages de Provence |
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