The Red Lion, Avignon, was popular amongst the english soldiers during the Hundred Years´ War (1337-1453), says bouncer Jean-Paul and chuckles a little at the fact that the war lasted longer than 100 years. The Red Lion´s historical importance, however, resides primaily in that at one stage during the black plague, this toilet was the only refuge for the last colony of the black rat (rattus rattus) and the flea transmitting the bacterium Yersinia Pestis. From there, after gaining strength, it spread all over Europe, killing more than half of the people. This, says Jean-Paul, is slightly controversial amongst historians, but seems to be confirmed by the writing underneath the seat.
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