Millevin

Every year Avignon celebrates the new wine year with a big festival called Millevin. What we really liked about this festival is its location.....just 50 metres from our front door!!!

The Advert That Got Our Attention

The festival is in the large square, Place de L'Horloge, which is surrounded by restaurants, the cinema, and Opera hall that we went to the other night...it is really the centre of the old town.

They have been setting up the small sheds for this event for the last week or so, and now that it is all up and running looked fantastic at night.

Wine Stalls and The Town Hall

Lights Everywhere

Magical Fairy Lights

Lights and The Carousel

We got there as it all opened, bought our 3 Euros entry ticket that included our tasting glass and BREATHERLIZER!!!! No drunk driving at this event!!! We got through the first few stands easily...then the crowds just kept growing and growing, but it was all very friendly and we had a great time pointing at bottles we wanted to taste or asking to taste their Vin Rouge or Blanc. You can get quite a lot of very good quality wines for less than 10 dollars Australian!

Let The Tasting Begin!!

Crowds Are Getting Bigger!

Soon we could hear the drumming of the band as the winemakers marched past on their way to the Papal Palace. It was great to see them all in their dress, very colourful!

The Drummers Approach

Everyone Is In The Mood

The Winemakers

We followed the winemakers into the big square where the whole festival was officially opened, and songs were sang.....not sure if they were drinking songs or not, but everyone enjoyed themselves!

Papal Palace All Lit Up For The Occassion

The Speeches and Songs Begin

After the speeches we witnessed one of the most spectacular light and music shows we have ever seen. The lighting show had been customized to fit in with the architecture of the Papal Palace and was just wonderful to watch!!!

The Light Show....Fantastic!!!

After the light show it was back to taste some more wines. On the way through we bought some bottles of wine and plates of food to take back to the apartment.

More Tastings

Great Bands

We eventually made our way back to the apartment and sat and enjoyed our wine and food we had bought. At the end of the night we tested our breatherlizers.........thank goodness we only had a short walk back from the festival.....we both failed...no driving tonight!

Safe To Walk But Not Drive!!!

So we have come to the end of another wonderful day in Avignon, only a few more days and we are off to Spain.

 

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