May 30: around Avignon 2

From the Place du Palais I scuttled back into the narrow streets to the west and then headed south along the western edge of the old city.

8495

First, these wonderfully irregular steps down to Rue de la Balance.

8505

Later, unexpectedly, along Rue Limas, a Muson-River tourist train. (Trigger warning behind the link: completely adorable trains)

8511

Engaging hardscaping at the Place Crillon.

8513

Along Rue Rempart de l'Oulle, a solid street wall faces off with a solider city wall.

8516

Some cool hexbullseye inlays on the same street, just after Passage de l'Oratoire.

8517

A selection of (half-)arches for you in this wall tower, still on l'Oulle.

8518

In the elevational view, you can get a better idea of the interior space of the tower, a rather intriguing semi-secret spot.

8519

Quite a curious pattern indeed.

8520

I wonder how many centuries separate the construction of these walls on Rue Nicolas Lescuyer.

8523

A subtle eruption of new from old.

8527

An extra-secluded tower niche at the end of Rue d'Annanelle.

8533

A mysterious passage off Rue Joseph Vernet. Note that you can see all the way through the building at the end.

8538

I think this protrusion must be a natural loosely-packed sedimentary mixture, but it looks like it was tossed together by a blind-drunk mason. It also looks like a guffawing face.

8545

Across the sycamorish Rue de la République, a brief glimpse of the Temple St.-Martial and the Square Perdiguier at left.

8556

Then along Rue des Lices, by the corner of Rue Portail Magnanen, is this imposing multi-arcaded building wrapped around a large courtyard open to the street. The only reference I can find to it is photos entitled "Ancienne Aumônerie" (Old Chaplaincy), which raises more questions than it answers.

8559

Though the south wing lacks the arcades, its rhythm is consistent.

8560

At each end of the front edge of the courtyard are these little volumes. I see "Ecole Les E..." above the door but can't quite make out that last word.

8561

Dominating the courtyard are these two grand old sycamores. I think I had a close call and almost got locked inside the courtyard. The escape would have been spiky if that had happened.