The first world war bled the French population. The city lost 1200 of its sons in battle. World War Two was even more terrible. The city was occupied by the German army on November 11, 1942. The months preceding the liberation were the most painful. The first allied bombings, aimed at railroad and bridges, caused 450 deaths, 1200 wounded and 3000 disasters. The bombings continued until the city's liberation, by franco-american troops, with no enemy resistance, on the 25th of August, 1944.
From the end of the war to the 1970's - a period of unprecedented economic growth - Avignon and the region profit from a developing industry based on tourism, fresh produce and wine. Its image as a cultural city was propagated throughout the world thanks to the Theater Festival created in 1946 by Jean Vilar. Its climate and unparalleled heritage make Avignon a European tourist and culture capital. Being elected European City of Culture in the year 2000 - along with 8 other cities : Prague, Krakow, Saint Jaques de Compostello, Helsinki, Bologna, Brussels, Reykjavik, Bergen - can be seen as a consecration. It is also a wonderful springboard into the 21st century.
