The historic town of Avignon might be more famous as the subject of a child's nursery rhyme, but every year hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over Europe make their way to this Provencal city to explore its old quarter, religious buildings and fascinating museums. As well as taking a stroll on the famous bridge, of course! Surrounded by the stunning Provence countryside, Avignon is also a great base for those tourists who want to spend some time walking, cycling or even climbing in the hills that rise behind the Mediterranean coast, especially the infamous Mont Ventoux, scene of some of the most dramatic moments on the Tour de France cycling race.
Much of Avignon's town centre has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognising its historical and architectural importance. The “Pont d'Avignon” of the song is actually the Saint-Benezet Bridge over the River Rhone that flows through the town. First built in the 12th century, it was destroyed by several floods before the version visitors see today was constructed in the 17th century. Unfortunately, it has sustained damage over the years and half of the structure is missing, meaning you can only walk a short distance across the river. This doesn't stop the bridge being one of the most visited attractions in Avignon.
Most visitors will also make their way to the Pope's Palace, a huge Gothic building dating from the 14th century when Avignon was the religious centre of Europe. Start in the Musee de l'Ouevre which details the history behind the Pope's move to Avignon and information about the building itself. Once inside, there are several chapels, dozens of staterooms and hundreds of impressive pieces of art, including priceless frescoes on the walls of the Pope's private chambers.
Part of the charm in visiting Avignon is just wandering round the old town streets, marvelling at the quaint houses, spectacular religious buildings and enjoying a drink or snack in one of the shaded courtyards. To help ensure visitors don't miss any of the best bits, there are four different trails to follow around the historic quarter, with all of the interesting monuments marked by plaques in French and English. The four are marked by colour-coded signs on the pavements and cobbled streets. Or you can just explore the medieval streets at your own pace – but make sure you see the pretty rue des Teinturiers. Just one of the roads named after the ancient trades of Avignon, the pavements cafes along this particular stretch of cobbles enjoy wonderful views of the Sorgue canal with its water mills and overhanging buildings.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Avignon? Then below is a selection of gites in Avignon and villas in Avignon that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
