Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about visiting Avignon in the South of France. It’s my favorite place to go when I am visiting Provence. If you’re looking for a fun destination, we’ve got a list of the best things to do in Avignon.
Papal Palace (Palais des Papes)
Avignon was once home to the Pope and served as home to seven French Popes in total. You can still visit the Papal Palace and take a tour. This also brought a lot of money to Avignon, in the form of art and architecture. However, most of the original furnishings are gone and the frescoes and artwork were destroyed. Some of the churches in town also seem to be empty, so it’s not exactly a Vatican-style experience. The Avignon Papacy ended in 1377 and things weren’t as well preserved as they are in modern times.
Musée du Petit Palais
For a nice collection of 13th and 14th-century art, including Botticelli.
Place de l’Horloge
This is one of the main squares or plazas in Avignon. It’s always a lively place full of activity. Over the holidays, it’s where you’ll find the Avignon Christmas market.
Celebrating Christmas in France with French Traditions
Pont D’Avignon
The Avignon bridge is another major attraction in this town. There are four arches remaining of this bridge that is over 800 years old. You can walk out on the bridge for great views but hold tight to any little ones as there isn’t a fence to keep them from falling off.
Official Tourism Website of Avignon: https://avignon-tourisme.com/en/
City Walls
Avignon was and is a walled city. The ramparts are really well-preserved, and you can even walk on top of some of them. They were built in the 14th century during the French Papacy, and they’ve been maintained really well. There are many walled cities in Provence, but we think Avignon has the most to offer.
Musee Calvet
For a fine arts museum, Musee Calvet is worth a visit. It is housed in two historic buildings in Avignon. The collections include goldwork, tapestries, and ironwork.
Eat & Drink Well
Provence has some of the best food in the world, and Avignon is a great place to try all of it. There are tons of restaurants to choose from, and the farther you wander off the beaten path, the more authentic food you’ll find.
Explore Provence
As long as you’re in Avignon, you should also take the time to explore the rest of Provence. Avignon hotels make a great base area from which you can take day trips around the region. Arles and Nimes are both excellent day trips from Avignon. Keep in mind that the TGV station is not in the center of Avignon, so choose a train that goes to Avignon Centre. If you are taking the train from Paris to Avignon, you may have to change trains to get to the city center.
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Get Lost!
No really! Take the opportunity to just wander the streets and take in the atmosphere. Stroll down some of the pedestrian streets and enjoy the shops, cafes, and public squares. It’s a walled city, so you really can’t get too lost!
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
With a central location in Provence, plus great food and interesting history and culture, Avignon is a place I love in Provence. It’s my favorite city in the region, not only for the history and the food but also for the easy access to other towns in Provence. When you are planning a trip to Provence, I highly recommend visiting Avignon. Interested in more France travel tips? Check out these blog posts!