Why Visit Avignon?
I wanted to visit the region of Provence for the longest time. And, when I finally planned my trip I picked Avignon as my home base for the trip. Why? Well, I didn’t have a car and discovered that Avignon was usually recommended since it has a better public transport link to the rest of the region. Avignon is actually one of the largest towns in Provence and I wanted a place that had a number of shops and restaurants. I planned on taking a private day trip of Provence anyway, so Avignon was my top home base pick.
How To Get To Avignon From Paris
The easiest way to get to Avignon from Paris is by train. From Paris’s Gare de Lyon station you can take the TGV( the high-speed train) straight to the Avignon TGV Station; it is about a 2 hour and 40-minute ride. I love taking trains in Europe, and this train was very nice and clean inside. Luckily, there was enough space for the luggage in the train car I was in because sometimes there isn’t enough space for everyone’s luggage. The train has a food cafe where you can get snacks and drinks. For more info on booking a trip via the train visit http:// https://www.sncf.com/en
Once you arrived at the Avignon train station you can simply take a taxi to your hotel that is in town.
Where to Stay in Avignon
Avignon is a small historical city, so you won’t be seeing any big name hotels in its historic city center. But, they have many nice smaller boutique hotels. It is best if you stay in a hotel that is inside the walls.
The hotel I picked was Hôtel de l’Horloge ( 1 Rue Félicien David, 84000 Avignon, France). The hotel is located right in the center of town and is right by Horloge Square. Horloge Square has many restaurants surrounding it and is a short walk away from many attractions. I thought the room was nice and provided comfortable accommodations. Plus, it had air conditioning and an elevator. You never know when some of these hotels in historic areas don’t have an elevator or proper air conditioning .
I found they had an amazing buffet breakfast. The hotels selection of breakfast bread/pastries they had were delicious, and I loved their selection of fresh fruits.
Top Things To Do and See in Avignon
1. Palais des Papes
Palais de Papes is the main attraction in town and has a cool history. Back in the 14th century in 1309 Pope Clement V fled a corrupt Rome and made Avignon the home of the papacy where it stayed for around 68 years. Currently, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is a beautiful medieval gothic building to visit. Inside of the palace, it is mostly sparse, but now they usually host art exhibitions. I think it is a beautiful place to tour inside and get a look at the architecture.It’s definitely worth a visit to go inside.
2. Pont Saint-Bénézet / Pont d’Avignon
So, legend has it that back in 1177 a shepherd named Bénézet had been told by either Angels or Jesus Christ to build a bridge along the River Rhône. The townspeople didn’t believe the shepherd until they saw him lift a giant stone that laid the foundation of the bridge( they all believed him thinking God blessed him with divine strength). The original bridge was built between 1171 – 1178 but had been destroyed by crusades and natural disasters. Currently, what stands is only half of the bridge. You can pay a small fee to walk on the bridge, and listen to an audio guide that is provided. The medieval bridge does have beautiful views.
3. Les Halles Indoor Food Market
I love food, and you can see it’s a common theme on my blog when it comes to traveling. I especially love food markets of any kind. The outdoor of the covered market is covered with greenery making it look lovely. Inside there are many stalls loaded with a variety of local food and produce. They have bread/sweets, fruit, vegetables, and meats. There are a number of ready-made food, and small indoor food cafes you can choose. You can pick up your favorite foods and take them on a picnic nearby. For an indoor food market, I would consider it to be small, but I think it has enough variety to satisfy anyone needs.
4. Les Luminessences Avignon ( summertime only)
The first night I was in Avignon I went to this show. I never went to something like it in a small European town. In the courtyard of the Palais des Papes is where they have the show where everyone can sit down on the ground to watch it. They have the show from mid-August to late- September. It’s a 360° light and sound show projected onto the walls of the palace that tells the history of Avignon. It’s a 45-minute show, but it goes by quickly. They have the show at different times in both English and French. I thought it was a very cool experience, and thought it was a work of art. For more info visit: http://www.lesluminessences-avignon.com/en
5. Walk Around Avignon
Avignon is a beautiful well preserved medieval town. I love the cute alleyways and walking around the medieval cobblestone streets. There are plenty of fun shops to visit, and charming streets to discover. Most streets I walked around where pedestrian only streets.
6. Take The Petit Train Avignon
I love taking these small trains in cities for a tour. This little train goes around Avignon for 45-minutes while you listen to an audio guide. While on the train you get to see the main historical attractions and learn more about the city. It’s a great thing to do the first day you get to Avignon so that you can get a basic layout of the town and you can get an idea of any restaurants/stores you want to go back to visit.
The Ultimate Avignon Travel Guide The Ultimate Avignon Travel Guide.The Ultimate Avignon Travel Guide
