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Beside the Palais des Papes (visible in the top right hand corner of the photo) the other structure for which Avignon is famous because of the song, is the Pont d'Avignon. Originally, this bridge had 22 arches. It crossed, not only the arm of the Rhône visible in this photo, but continued across the island from which this photo was taken, but from there crossed the other arm of Rhône on the island's other side. Since it was considered to be too expensive to be rebuilt in its original form, it is now maintained in this abbreviated version, and, I suppose, it is considerably safer now to dance there then it would have been if today it still served as a means of actually crossing the river. And so , today, you can pay some money to join those who wish to join those who wish to make sure the song is still true. And so, in our minds, the song continues: SUR LE PONT D'AVIGNON ON Y DANSE, ON Y DANSE, SUR LE PONT D'AVIGNON ON Y DANSE TOUS EN ROND!
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Western Europe
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