Place Pie (Avignon)

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The destruction in 1562 of the house of Jean-Perrin Parpaille, son of a former director of the University of Avignon, and an ardent Catholic converted to Protestantism, freed up the plaza that came to be called the Place Pie (Pope Pie VI). Immediately a colonnad was erected, the first stage of what became the fruit and vegetable market place. More houses were torn down and this incarnatin of the market was completed in 1624.

Jean-Baptiste Franque's new project comprised of stone arcades beneath storage lofts (called « sextiers » ) required its demolition. During the Revolution it was renamed Place d'Armes, continuing as a market for agricultural commerce, and eventually displacing the Place de l'Horloge in this capacity. In 1844, in the western portion of the plaza, a small covered market went up in front of the Commandery. This metal structure increased the market's commercial capacity.

During the Second Empire, Franque's structure was in turn torn down, and Rue Thiers was laid (1869-76), opening onto the plaza. The plaza was further enlarged with the unfortunate destruction of the Commandery, and in 1899 a large metal structure was erected to respond to the growing market needs of the city. These market halls were demolished in 1972, replaced by a new edifice with a parking garage at its top ; a discouraging accomplishment, despite recent renovation. www.avignon.fr/en/visites/visite4en.php