AttractionsAvignon France

Avignon, the once home of the Papacy is now home to a famous theater festival - Festival d'Avignon held once a year in the summer. It is also home, as one might expect to a Popes’ Palace and a famous bridge - Pont Saint Bénezet. Better known as the Pont d'Avignon – Avignon Bridge, made famous in the children’s song of the same name.

Avignon is a medieval city that still has its city walls. The medieval feel is present not only in the architecture of Avignon but also when you look down, many street are paved in cobblestones.

Avignon has just about everything a tourist could ask for – history, great weather and a lovely setting. The town is easily visited in a day and won’t wear out your shoes as both the Popes’ Palace and Saint-Bénezet Bridge are within easy walking distance of each other in the center of Avignon. If by chance you do get tired there is a tourist train to show you the sights.

Both the Popes’ Palace and Pont Saint Bénezet offer visitors free handheld audio guides (in a number of languages). These audio guides will enhance your visit and let you visit at your own pace but still supply you all the history you could ask for.

Avignon is located in the Rhone Valley just off the A7 Autoroute. Once you exit the A7 just follow the signs for Avignon. Once in Avignon follow the signs for ‘centre ville’. There are a number of car parks in the center of Avignon, look for signs marked ‘P’. Note that parking is not free and street (free) parking is not easy to find.

There is also TGV (high speed train service) from Paris, making Avignon just over two and a half hours from the French capital. If you do take a TGV train to Avignon you will arrive outside the center, i.e. away from where the Popes’ Palace is. Not to worry you can easily take a bus or taxi to the center. The ride shouldn’t be more than a few minutes.

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