Avignon: Where Cultures Bridge

No city better embodies the Rhône's role as a cultural crossroads than Avignon. The famous bridge, the Pont Saint-Bénézet, stands broken in the river—a poignant symbol of connections attempted and interrupted. Yet Avignon continues to bridge cultures in other ways.

During the annual Festival d'Avignon, the city becomes a global theater where artists from every continent perform in courtyards, churches, and riverside venues. The OFF festival, in particular, showcases diverse voices. Street theater groups from West Africa share stages with experimental companies from Eastern Europe. The Rhône provides a dramatic backdrop for performances that blend languages, traditions, and perspectives.

"The river is our biggest stage," says festival director Aminata Sow. "It represents flow, movement, the meeting of different currents. Just like theater itself. When we program shows by the Rhône, we think about how rivers connect rather than divide."