Le The Pope's Palace

The Popes' Palace, at the same time a fortress and a palace was the residence of 9 French popes who lived in Avignon from 1309 till 1377.

If you dream a little you can imagine the immense rooms splendidly furnished and decorated with frescoes and with highly coloured pavements where took place  prelates ballet, pilgrims, visitors, lawyers, knights and servants.

The Bridge of Avignon

You can make a small tour to the Bridge of Avignon which was built - according to the legend - by a young shepherd named Saint-Bénézet.

On the bridge, you will have a magnificent view of the right bank of the Rhône, in particular the Tower Philippe le Bel and the Fort Saint André which are with the Chartreuse and the Collegiate church the jewels of our neighbour VILLENEUVE LES AVIGNON.

The Ramparts

Your glance will never be tired by the contemplating Ramparts, the Popes' Palace and the cathedral Notre-Dame of Doms, placed under the protection of the Virgin Mary.

Behind the scene of Mont-Ventoux with it’s eternally white summit, even without snow.

Theater & Museum

But Avignon has also cultural activities with numerous theatres which are open all through the year, with high-quality Opera concerts, varieties plays.

Museums such Calvet, Angladon, Vouland, of the Petit Palais or the Lambert foundation dedicated to  contemporary art, will allow you to discover an impressive pictorial wealth among the numerous collections which are exposed .

The Festivities

It is also in July the International Festival Theatre created more than 50 years ago by Jean Vilar, in February the Wintry of Dance, in January Horse Passion, in June the Festival of the French-American movie, in September the Banns of the Grape harvests, in November the medieval festivals  for the release of the new wine of the “cotes du Rhône” , and finally in December the Christmas market on the “place de l’horloge”..

The numerous restaurants in the city will be happy to receive you  to taste the Provençal gastronomy.

To discover in the South

• Alpilles (St Rémy, les Baux de Provence) 30 minutes.
  
• Arles Roman and Provençal where you will find the souvenirs of Van Gogh and Picasso 45 minutes .
  
• The Camargue, the Nature réserve of Vaccarès, saintes-Marie de la Mer 1 hour
  
• Aix en Provence 45 minutes, Marseille and Creeks 1 hour.

To discover to the West

• On the other side of the Rhône Villeneuve les avignon which was the residence of numerous cardinals.
  
• Pont du Gard and Nimes the Roman.
  
• The Duchy of Uzès and Cevennes.

To discover in the North

• “Les dentelles de Montmirail” is renown for the amateurs climbing
  
• Through “la route des vins” you will come across attractive villages such as Vacqueyras, Gigondas, Beaumes of Venice, Sablet, Séguret, Ste Cécile des vignes…
  
• “ Mont-Ventoux " called the Giant of Provence " makes the glory and the disillusions of cyclists, because of it’s difficult slopes to climb.
  
• Magnificent vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape .where you can make a stop and taste the vine in the numerous vine caves.
  
• Orange and its famous Roman Ancient theatre .where in the summer take place magnificent operas during “Chorégies”.
  
• Vaison la Romaine, Valréas and the Enclave of the Popes, the preferred soil for the ”black diamond"

To discover to the East

• Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, where you can find antique dealers and its second-hand trade fairs.
  
• Fountain of Vaucluse where lingers the memory of Pétrarque and Laure.
  
• Gordes, built on the cliff, one of the most beautiful villages of France.
  
• The Romanic Abbey of Sénanque snuggled up in the hollow of the valley
  
• The golden quarry of “ochre” of Roussillon (Provençal Colorado)
  
• Perched Villages , Ménerbes, Oppède, Bonnieux and at Lacoste where there are the castle’s vestiges of the Marquis de Sade
  
• The castles of Ansouis and Lourmarin

Circuits with themes

• Road of the Jewish heritage of the South of France
  
• Provence of Alphonse Daudet
  
• Provence of Frédéric Mistral
  
• Vincent van Gogh in Provence
  
• Romanic Provence ( the Provençal abbeys)
  
• Traditions in Provence: Christmas and Christmas crib figures
  
• Roman Provence
  
• The Road of lavender as well as many other suggestions