Avignon's history dates back to Roman times, when the city was called Avenio and was an important commercial and cultural center in the region.
In the Middle Ages, the city became part of the County of Provence and became a walled city, with an economy based on silk production and trade.
In the 14th century, Avignon became the seat of the Papacy, after Pope Clement V settled there in 1309 to escape the political strife in Rome.
Over the next seventy years, Avignon was the seat of various popes, who built the impressive fortress of the Palace of the Popes, as well as the Notre-Dame des Doms cathedral.
In the year 1378, the Papacy returned to Rome, and Avignon once again became part of the County of Provence. Over the following centuries, the city suffered a series of conflicts, including religious wars and revolutions, which left their mark on the city and its architecture.
In the 19th century, Avignon became a major center of the textile industry, with numerous factories producing silk and other textiles. During World War II, the city was occupied by German forces, but was liberated by Allied forces in August 1944.
Today, Avignon is a popular tourist city, with an impressive historical and architectural heritage, including the Palace of the Popes and the Avignon Bridge, as well as a lively cultural scene that includes music and theater festivals. The city is also an important center of wine production in the Provence region.
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