-Europe.France.Avignon-
A trip to southern France should include Avignon on the itinerary. I have been having a pretty busy June with work and business trip. So much so that I did not have time to plan what to see. I left it pretty much impromptu according to what my friend had planned. She gave us a few options and Avignon sounded familiar and so it was decided to do a day trip there from our base in Aix-en-Provence.
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Table of Contents
Getting to Avignon
We flew to Marseille airport from Venice and based in the lovely Aix-en-Provence. Our friend brought us to Avignon by car.
*Note: If you don’t have a European sim card, do yourself a favour by getting an e-sim. I always use Airalo for my travels.
By Car
It is not advisable to drive into the Avignon historical center – a lot of the streets are pedestrianized. There are 2 big parking places outside the walls and a free shuttle bus that brings people to just outside the entrance of the walled city.
Parking de l`Ile Piot: Open 24 hours /day (650 spaces). Free bus shuttle to the Porte de l`Oulle
Parking des Italiens: (450 spaces) Avenue des Italiens, open all year long from Monday to Saturday (closed on holidays) guarded from 7:30 am to 8:30pm
By Train
With two train stations at its doorstep, Avignon is reachable from the bigger cities. A train station at its center and a high speed station almost 5km away which has easy and fast connections to the center.
Getting Around Avignon Center
By Foot
Most recommended – We walked around the walled city without any issues. It is pleasant enough with things to see along the way. Most of the streets are pedestrianized and in good condition. There are some cobbled stone areas as well so wearing a sturdy pair of shoes is always a good idea.
*Tip: Grab a free map from the Tourist office with recommended walking paths to see the sights.
With Bicycles
Obviously to cover more ground – cycling around will get you around faster. Velopop offers self-service bike rentals. Ask at your hotels or the Tourist office for bike rental recommendations.
Tourist Train
The Petit Train has a stand at the grounds of the Palace of the Popes. You can get the tickets on-the-spot. The train is equipped with commentary headsets (with many different languages) for the guided tour. It is open at the sides – so prepare to be drenched if it rains heavily. It is a good way to see Avignon if you have not so much time. Check out the highlights on the route here
*Tip: Take the first bus in the morning (10am) for less of a crowd.
The Baladines Shuttle
The city of Avignon has 4 electric shuttles that drive within the city. Simply hail it when you need to get on. The fare is 0,50 Euros and payable to the driver.
What to see and do in Avignon
To say that Avignon is a historical place is an understatement, it was in fact the seat of the Roman Catholic popes from 1306 -1376. Unsurprisingly the Popes then were French – in 1377 the papal seat moved back to Rome.
Avignon is as well on of the few French cities with a medieval wall still preserved.
Palace of the Popes
This is the place to visit to have a look at where the Roman Catholic popes of the past lived and eventually fortified their residence. I definitely think a visit here should be part of an Avignon visit. We received a histopad at the entrance – an iPad which shows the visitors how a room would have looked in the past enhanced the experience. By the time we got to the top, I was excited to see the views from above and I was not disappointed.
The chapels inside has a host of paintings on the walls and ceilings and unfortunately photography is not allowed. The palace is as well used to host events such as art exhibitions as well as the annual Festival d’Avignon in July.
We bought a combined ticket for entrance to the Palace and the Bridge (as below). I recommend buying online especially on a day trip. It was really easy to show the tickets on my phone for the entry.
Avignon Cathedral
The Basilica is unmistakable with the golden statue of the Virgin Mary. There are many works of art kept inside. Situated right next to the Palace of the Popes it is hard to miss.
Entrance is free but it costs to go up to the tower.
Pont d'Avignon (Saint-Bénézet Bridge)
Pont d’Avignon is the common name for the Saint-Bénézet Bridge.
The current construction with the remaining four arches does not reach its intended destination. What was previously 22 arches was destroyed in floods and war. There are two chapels built on one of the bridge’s pillars. The chapel of Saint-Bénézet and above it the chapel of Saint-Nicholas.
Together with the Palace of the Popes and the Historical Center, the Pont d’Avignon is declared as a Unesco World Heritage.
Rue des Teinturiers
Touted as the prettiest street in Avignon, peaked our interest. We took a leisurely stroll after visiting the Pont d’Avignon. We passed by plenty of small shops from boutiques to selling candy. Finally arriving at this charismatic street lined with trees and cobblestoned floors. The street runs parallel to the canal with waterwheels
Avignon Hotel De Ville
It is very busy around the City hall area as it sits on the town’s main square : Place de l’Horlage. Next door is the National Opera Theatre, Close to the two landmarks is the Carrousel Belle Epoque
Close to the two landmarks is the Carrousel Belle Epoque. I have seen this Carrousel type all over France – but it was still a joy to see people enjoying it on a lovely day out.
Just Watch It!
A short video compilation walking through Avignon and its highlights. .
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Oh Avignon. I had booked my flights, hotel, trips everything but then something urgent came up and I had to cancel the entire trip. I’m just so sad that I couldn’t make it to Avignon, Arles & the region. Even I had booked my flight to Marseilles. Good to know that it’s better to skip the car when visiting Avignon . I’ll keep that in mind when I get to go there again.
Avignon looks so dreamy! France is one of my all-time favourite countries, especially the ethereal medieval towns like Avignon, which are steeped in incredible history.