Avignon may not be the first town that springs to mind when you think of visiting Provence. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I had the opportunity to discover it for a day this summer,
The city has many attractions. From its impressive Palais des Papes that dominates the city to a rich collection of free museums. And the gastronomy how can we not talk about the fine red wine made close by the city as well as the Provencal specialities. You can add the medieval streets, dotted with little shops, and of course its famous bridge and you’ll find a lot of charm to this city.
Avignon is, in fact, a perfect weekend getaway, that I propose you to discover today !
1. HOW TO REACH AVIGNON
- By train : trains are departing every 30 minutes from Marseille to Avignon. It can takes 30 minutes to 1h30 depending if you choose a fast train or a regular one. From Paris you will reach Avignon train station in about 3 hours. Buy your train ticket on the SNCF platform.
- By bus : just a few buses are liking Avignon from Marseille so better take the train. However the city is more accessible from Paris, with a stopover in Lyon (10h travel time) with Flixbus.
- By car : around 1h from Marseille, 1h30 from Montpellier, 2h30 from Lyon and a whole day of driving from Paris (8h).
2. THE PALAIS DES PAPES
In the 14th century, the papacy established its pontifical residence in Avignon, making the city the seat of Western Christianity during the medieval era. The Palais des Papes, the largest Gothic building of the Middle Ages, was the seat of the papacy.
There are 25 rooms to explore during your visit to the palace. Allow around two hours to explore the palace using the ‘histopad’ provided (which is a bit bulky -in my opinion- as informations are also available on panels. However, it allows you to see what the palace looked like in its peak period, which may appeal to younger visitors.
The palace gardens are a haven of peace, home to bees and a wide variety of plants typical of Provence. Don’t miss the priceless frescoes in the chapels and the pope’s private flats, created by renowned Italian artists 700 years ago.
Practical information:
- Opening hours: 9am to 7pm in high season – 10am to 5pm otherwise.
- Prices: 12 euros (palace only) – 10 euros (reduced price for students) – 17 euros full price (palace, bridge, gardens)
3. VISIT THE FREE MUSEUMS OF AVIGNON
It’s a rare thing for a city of this size, so it’s worth noting that Avignon’s municipal museums are free for everybody. There are 5 of them, spread throughout the city. If you only have a day to visit, you probably won’t be able to see them all, but you can choose the ones that appeal to you most:
The Requien Natural History Museum: explores the flora and fauna of the Vaucluse, from prehistoric times onwards, through an collection of over a million items.
The Petit Palais Museum: only a few steps away from the Palais des Papes, this museum houses a vast collection of Italian paintings dating from before the 16th century. With over 300 works by more than 130 artists, this collection is one of the largest outside the Louvre.
The Palais du Roure: Topped by a magnificent sculpture in the shape of an oak branch, this palace is a great way to immerse yourself in Mediterranean culture.
The Lapidaire Museum : housed in a 17th-century church, this museum presents a collection of ancient objects and sculptures, ranging from relics of Avignon’s antiquity to funerary stelae from ancient Egypt and Greco-Roman theatre masks.
The Calvet Luseum : often recommended as a must-see because of its comprehensive and well-organised layout, offers a great mix of paintings, sculptures and Egyptian antiquities.
4. HAVE A STROLL ON THE OLD CITY
Avignon is a beautiful city with a perfectly preserved medieval historic centre surrounded by solid ramparts. It’s full of little streets dotted with shops selling Provençal specialities, a park offering a breathtaking view of the structure of the Popes’ Palace, as well as the Pont d’Avignon and Villeneuve-lès-Avignon and its fortified castle opposite. As well the town is also full of cosy squares where you can enjoy lunch and a glass of local wine (Châteauneuf-du-Pape are worldwide known red wine)
4. TAKE A WALK ON THE PONT D’AVIGNON
As French people, we’ve all heard the famous song ‘Sur le pont d’Avignon’, and during my visit it wasn’t unusual to hear people, both French and foreign, humming it or singing it to their children.
But did you know that the Pont Avignon is in fact incomplete ? The bridge has collapsed several times throughout the centuries as a result of heavy flooding on the Rhône, and for the moment there are no plans to complete it.
If you happen to be in Avignon and have a bit of extra time on your hands, the bridge is worth a little visit. Not only does it offers a beautiful view of the Palais des Papes and the old town, but it also gives you the chance to learn more about the history of the bridge’s construction, its use and the famous song that made it famous. We learn that in the 12th century, a certain Benezet (‘little Benoit’ in Provençal) is said to have had a bridge built in Avignon thanks to divine intervention by gathering the crowds together, hence the french name ‘Pont d’Avignon’ or ‘Pont Benezet’).
5. TAKE THE FREE BOAT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CITY
To end the day, why not treat yourself to a sunset view from the other side of Avignon?
Take the free river shuttle from the Quai de la Ligne, at the foot of the Pont d’Avignon, to the Ile de la Barthelasse, Europe’s largest river island. Once on the island, you can cycle along the 13 km of cycle paths or stroll along the quay, admiring the panoramic view of the old town.
The shuttle runs from February to December, departing every 15 minutes from 11am to 9pm in summer. For up-to-date timetables, visit the website of Avignon tourism office.
In short, Avignon was a very pleasant surprise. A full day is enough to discover the city’s main attractions, especially if you like walking and sightseeing. But the city can also be enjoyed over a weekend, so you won’t miss out on any of the museums or take advantage of the villages in the surrounding area, such as L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue or Gordes. Finally, if you visit Avignon in summer, don’t miss the Festival d’Avignon, the world’s biggest event dedicated to theatre and the performing arts. For a fortnight, the city vibrates to the rhythm of the performances, making it an ideal time to discover it and extend your stay by one or more nights.