Dry Cleaners’ Street

We’ll take a right here, but before we do, take a peek at the street opposite you. It’s the Rue des Teinturiers, that is, the Dry Cleaners’ Street. This charming and historic street is a must-see for any visitor to Avignon. Paved with pebbles from the Durance river, it follows the Sorgue canal and owes its name to the town’s thriving textile industry between the 14th and 19th centuries. To this day, you can still find the four waterwheels that once powered the nearby printed fabric factories. The street was once lined with mulberry trees, which fed the hungry silkworms. You see, back in the Middle Ages, Avignon was one of Europe’s leading silk producers. As the industry diversified to include cotton, numerous textile factories were built in the region, equipped with weaving looms, carding machines and other textile manufacturing equipment. The region’s waterways were harnessed, as their currents propelled the waterwheels that in turn powered the machines. And then, there were the dyers, the skilled craftsmen that dyed the fabrics in various shades and colors. They’d prepare the dyes, apply them to the fabric, and then made sure the colors wouldn’t fade. The street still bears their name today, in recognition of the industry that brought wealth to the city for many years, forever marking its history. Things changed in the 20th century, however, with the advent of new manufacturing methods and strong market competition. Yet the textile industry still remains a significant part of the local economy. Be that as it may, the Rue des Teinturiers is a popular tourist spot, buzzing with cafés and restaurants serving delicious treats under the shady plane trees. Feel free to come back here for a stroll and a bite to eat.