Rue de la Republique (Republic Street), Avignon

Republic Street (Rue de la République) in Avignon is a prominent 390-meter street in the heart of the city, running from the Clock Square (Place de l'Horloge), which hosts the Town Hall (Hôtel de Ville) and the Opéra Grand Avignon, to Cours Jean Jaurès, where you'll find the Tourist Office, the Square Agricol Perdiguier, and the Administrative City.

Originally named Cours Bonaparte in honor of Napoleon Bonaparte, who approved the project, the street underwent several name changes before settling on Republic Street in 1870. Its creation was envisioned as early as the 1680s by Pierre II Mignard, who proposed a direct route from the Clock Square to the Saint-Michel Gate. However, it wasn't until the 19th century, with the advent of the new railway station connecting Avignon to Paris in 1853, that the plan gained momentum.

The street's construction took place in three phases between 1856 and 1867, led by Paul Pamard's municipality. The first phase (1856-1857) extended from the railway station to Joseph-Vernet Street, elevated to prevent flooding. The second phase (1859-1863) stretched to the Chapel of the Lycée. The final phase, completed in 1867, connected the chapel to Clock Square.

Walking along Republic Street from Gate of the Republic (Porte de la République) to Clock Square, you'll encounter a variety of historic sites, including the former Hautpoul barracks, now an administrative complex, the Agricol Perdiguier square, once the site of the Saint-Martial cloister, the Jesuit College chapel now housing the Lapidary Museum, a fountain topped with a bronze statue of Paul Pamard, and a square featuring a bust of Frédéric Mistral.