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Where is Avignon?
The city of Avignon is located in Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur, France and is the 5th largest city of the region with a population of 89,769. The city is the capital of the Vaucluse department and lies at Rhone Rivers eastern bank near a narrow valley leading towards the delta plain of Nimes northwest. In 1995, the city became a UNESCO World Heritage site, serving as the cultural capital of Europe till 2000.
What is Avignon famous for?
Located at a distance of about three hours from Paris, this beautiful city is an ideal place to spend a calm weekend. There is a huge number of medieval buildings and the city is mainly famous because of its Gothic structures and architecture. A large section of town and various buildings have been declared as UNESCO World Heritage sites, including protective walls and ramparts.
Apart from that, the city holds various festivals every year providing magnificent settings for huge art performances, exhibitions, shows and much more. Many people visit here to sail in a boat through the Rhone River.
Avignon History
The civilization in Avignon dates back to 5,000 years back when it was ruled by the Gallic tribe of Cavares. It became independent in the 12th century when the trade flourished a lot until the 13th century when it got occupied by King Louis VIII. In 1309 papacy arrived here and stayed until 1377. Pope Clement V chose Avignon as his seat instead of Rome.
The popes administered immense power on the whole of Christendom from the Papal Palace. By the start of the 15th century, when the popes returned to Rome, the city lost some of its gleams. Finally in 1791, two years after the French Revolution started, the city became part of France. The next century lead towards its development and the city rose beyond the walls around it.
It was again occupied in WWII by the Nazis but the post-war years brought much cultural significance for the area, with the foundation of the annual theater festival in 1947. In 2000, the city was crowned as Europe's City of Culture and has become the hub of contemporary art.
Avignon Arts Festival
The Avignon Arts Festival is held every year in July since 1947, mainly in the Palais des Papes, but spreads out throughout the city. Millions of people from around the world come here to join the festival every year. Initially, the purpose of the festival was to showcase modern or unknown pieces. The festival is an open-air forum where hundreds of people get together to share their work and experiences and discuss working together in the future.
The mainstream 'in' part of the festival showcases around 50 pieces. The festival committee consists of serious governmental and national figures and famous directors and actors of theater. The main performances occur in the courtyard of the Grand Palais des Papes while there are almost 20 other locations that are used for performances. In the fringe 'out' part is held lesser-known performances and is organized by a non-profit organization in schools, music theaters, community spaces and even on the streets.
Food and Wine in Avignon
Just like its history, Avignon has a mixed cuisine that contains terrines, confit duck, pork charcuterie, steak tartare, game meat as well as fresh fruits and vegetables with salad being the most popular.
To get the most delicious truffles you have to come between November and March. You will get one the tastiest omelets of the world if you drive past orange towards La Beaugravière à Mondragon.
Talking about wines, rose is compulsory but more common are the punchier wines around here. Châteneuf-du-Pape wine is made from a blend of about 13 varieties and has a strong, rustic and bold taste. Their ripe flavor is said to be due to the pudding stones covering them all around the place.
10 Top Things to do in Avignon
Avignon was the most important city in Europe back in the 14th century. Being the seat of the Catholic Church it was furnished with various renaissance and gothic buildings that are now protected UNESCO sites. Let’s have a look at the most important places that you must not miss during your trip to Avignon.
1. Palais des Papes
The 14th-century palace was originally built to accommodate the Popes who came here from the corrupt Rome to take refuge. This palace is one of the most valuable and famous historical buildings in France. The 24 rooms of the cathedral are big enough to accommodate four gothic cathedrals in it. You have to watch it in real life to have the true idea of its magnificence and massive scale.
2. Pont Saint-Bénézet
This 12th century's mythic bridge serves as a link between France and Papal Territory. To avoid the strong river currents, the bridge was situated at the tightest part of the river bend. The bridge was originally 915 meters long with 22 arches out of which four are remaining today. Over the years the bridge got damaged due to flooding and was rebuilt numerous times till the 17th century when the massive flood took away most of its arches. Today remains the beautiful iconic site as a tribute to the original structure.
3. Ile de la Barthelasse
Take a break from the hustle-bustle of the city life and go on a ferry trip to the stunning Ile de la Barthelasse across the river. This one of Europe's biggest river islands is an amazing way to spend a relaxing day with various exciting activities like water sports, camping, paintball games, etc. you will also find a wide range of wildlife with an interesting range of plants and animals. Do visit the farmer marker and some of the multiple restaurants of the Island.
4. Calvet Museum
About 200 years back, Esprit Calvet, a local doctor, and collector, donated his art collection, the cabinet of curiosities and the library to the city. Open for the public for more than two centuries, this museum has been expanded with the donations by patrons and have a huge collection of ancient fine art, archeology, ethnological artifacts, and decorative art, not only from Europe but also from Asia and Africa.
5. Rue des Teinturiers
Once the heart of the silk dyeing and spinning industry of the town, today this charming little area is unknown to most. In the old days a narrow arm of the beautiful Sorgue River flowed through the street and was a major attraction here. Now there remains only its aesthetic value with four water wheels as a memento of the old flourishing industry. On the other side of the canal are stunning stone houses with little bridges to connect them to the cobblestone street, full of old plane trees.
6. Avignon Les Halles
Visit this aromatic and colorful market to get the authentic local experience. Every morning about 40 vendors set up their stalls providing a huge variety of authentic and fresh food items. Wander around the stalls and select items as per your choice. Opened through Tuesday to Sunday this market is the heart of the city and is very crowded, especially on Saturdays when different chefs are giving live demonstrations of their cooking expertise. It is a great way for amateur cooks to learn something from this live experience.
7. Musée Lapidaire
The 17th century's architectural site was meant to be a Jesus church but today it is home to huge archeological collection from around and within Avignon include antiques from Etruscan, Roman and Greek culture. The collection varies in a variety ranging from statues to vases, lamps to funerary pieces. Several temporary events and exhibitions are held every summer where hundreds of art lovers join from all around the world.
8. Le Rocher des Doms
The beautiful gardens of Le Rocher des Doms were originally constructed in 1830 and feature numerous sculptures and fountains. Take a walk among the breathtaking views of the area. The raised gardens are reached by a stairway rising from the bank of the Rhone River leading to this enchanting region. The elevated position protects the area from Mistral winds and welcomes the sun warmth, making it a suitable tourist destination round the year. There is also a small tourist train that can take you to the garden after a small tour of the old town.
9. Witness Some Festival
Avignon is famous for various festivals occurring at various times of the year. The official Festival d'Avignon is the most famous and oldest festival of not only the city but also in entire France. Thousands of people from all around the world come to join this festival every July when the city streets become alive with music, dance and theatre performances. Another famous one is the Off Festival occurring almost at the same time as the former one. That means that during this time every hall, park, courtyard, and theater is buzzing with excitement. Book your accommodation in advance as you might have difficulty to get a place when the city is overflowing with tourists.
10. Musée Louis Vouland
The small museum was originally a luxurious private hotel with a beautiful garden. Since 1982 it has been given the designation of a museum open for common visitors. The lovely museum takes you back in the 18th century with the display of its gorgeous paintings, ceramics, furniture, and tapestries. All these objects belonged to the huge decorative art collection of a wealthy Avignon citizen, Louis Vouland.
Day trips from Avignon
The historic region of Avignon has beautiful surrounding areas. You can stay here as a base and plan various one-day trips to these beautiful French destinations. Enjoy and explore as much as you can.
1. Nimes
Home to numerous Roman sites, this pretty old town has a lot of things to watch. You can easily spend a day or two exploring the stunning town and its various spots. But for a day trip, you need to choose only important things.
One of the must-watch places is the Musée de la Romanité, located across the street from Les Arene. With more than 5,000 Roman artifacts collected from surrounding rich cultural regions, the museum has soon gained immense popularity among the people. You can easily reach Nimes from Avignon by train in 35 minutes. But beware, the last train from Nimes to Avignon leaves at 8:20 p.m.
2. Pont du Gard
This iconic site is one of the significant tourist points of southern France. Looming over the beautiful Gardon River, this bridge is an impressive structure and will be a great joy to discover it. Dating back to the 1st century, this Roman aqueduct was built to carry river water across the border, to the city of Nimes. Two buses leave in the morning from Avignon to go to the entrance of the Pont du Gard site. Three buses leave from Pont du Gard for the return journey towards Avignon.
3. Mont Ventoux
The magnificent summit is the highest point of the region of Provence and located at a fair distance from Avignon. Located about 1909 meters above sea level, the high mountain peak is extremely windy. Over several centuries, the forest cover of the mountain has been removed, resulting in a barren, stark and denuded landscape of the peak. The views across the summit area, however, breathtaking and will leave a deep mark on your heart and memory.
5. Roussillon
To the east of Avignon, in the Luberon region, lies this beautiful village with its ochre color and striking beauty. The small village is surrounded by ochre quarries and has remarkable landscapes with contrasting greenery and mountains around it. With ochre-tinted houses and buildings, it is one of Europe's most beautiful villages. There are a few small cafes where you can relax during the afternoon and eight art galleries to quench your thirst for art and historical treasures.
6. Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Translated as the 'new castle of the pope' this beautiful wine village is famous around the world. The chateau was originally built as Papal summer residence in the 14th century, of which now remains only one standing tower. However, the village is a lovely place to visit with various cafes and shops along the medieval streets. This place has the privilege to be the first wine-growing region of France to get the appellation controlee mark.
Avignon Reviews & Ratings
Fantastic trip thank you. Martha awesome to deal with.
"Fantastic trip thank you. Martha awesome to deal with. The highlights for us were long lunches, history tour, fantastic towns and villages. We will be back in 3 yea...
We had a fantastic trip, the ladies who organised it were extremely helpful (thank you) and I have already recommended them to several other people who are interested in this type of holiday.
"We had a fantastic trip, the ladies who organised it were extremely helpful (thank you) and I have already recommended them to several other people who are interest...
Everything was very well organised including information, bikes, hotels, restaurants and luggage transfers.
Everything was very well organised including information, bikes, hotels, restaurants and luggage transfers. I will use you again!! Thank you. I have already recommen...
Excellent bikes and the route was well planned and easy to follow.
Excellent bikes and the route was well planned and easy to follow. All the accommodation was excellent. The hosts at all destinations were helpful. A special thank y...
Wow! We have just completed our cycling trip and we absolutely loved every second.
Wow! We have just completed our cycling trip and we absolutely loved every second. Thank you for your outstanding organisation: everything worked according to plan f...
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