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Avignon Town

Place de l'Horloge, Avignon, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Description

Avignon is situated in the South of France and best known as the residence of seven successive Popes during the Avignon Papacy (1309-1377). It was under papal control until 1791 and the French Revolution. The historical center of the town is on the southern bank of the Rhone river and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It includes famous monuments such as the Palais des Papes, the Pont Saint-Bénézet (a.k.a. Pont d'Avignon), the cathedral and the medieval defensive walls. Other touristic highlights include the Hôtel des Monnaies (it was the papal mint), the Calvet Museum and the Abbey of Saint-Ruf.

Access & Transport

Avignon is 45km northeast of Nîmes (A9/N100), 100km northwest of Marseille on the A7 and 220km south of Lyon on the A7. There are also trains to those cities but the High-Speed train (TGV) station is 4km from the historic center of town.

Instructions & Recommendations

The Palais des Papes and Pont Saint-Bénézet have been reviewed separately and should be strong contenders for a visit when exploring Avignon.

Meta review

The Palais des Papes and Pont Saint-Bénézet are the most popular attractions in the city by a margin and have very good but not excellent reviews. The Jardin des Doms is also popular for its views over the bridge and the Rhone whilst the Calvet Museum is also a favourite for its broad collection spanning paintings, sculptures and archaeology in a beautiful mansion.

Environmental & Social

The main activities in the city have a low carbon footprint. Tourism is a welcome injection of activity and revenues in the local economy and help preserve the town's architectural heritage.

Conclusion

Avignon is a worthy destination with a mix of top-tier sights, some culture and atmosphere. Food and wine are also a highlight of the town. The transport connectivity is good so it works quite well as a base to explore the surrounding region.

Key positive

A couple of stand-out attractions

Close to several other regional tourist attractions

Quality of regional food and cuisine

Key negative

None

Suitability

Mostly accessible for visitors with reduced mobility (notable exception being the Palais des Papes)

About this Rating

TYPE

Desktop

RESEARCHED IN

June 2024

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit

av. transport time:1h 15m

est. visit time:4h

Sunlight based

Sunrise / early morningNo

MorningOk

Lunch timeOk

AfternoonOk

Sunset / eveningOk

Night – bef. midnightOk

Night – aft. midnightNo

Pricing
Free

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