Things to do in Avignon, Provence, France

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Things to do in Avignon

Palais des Papes

The Palais des Papes is the largest gothic palace in Europe and attracts over 500,000 visitors per year. Built in the 14th century, was home to the Papacy for 77 years. We recommend an audio guide for the Palace which takes you on a tour which lasts for about 1 hour and 45 minutes. They can be bought with the admission tickets.

Pont St Benezet

Adjacent to the Palais des Papes is the famous Pont d'Avignon, commemorated by famous children's song. You can buy tickets at the entrance, which is just under the first arch of the bridge.

Avignon Festival

Avignon Festival, is an annual arts festival founded in 1947 by Jean Vilar. It is the oldest extant festival in France and one of the world's greatest. The festival consists of two parts, "In" and "Off". Some 950 shows are performed during the three weeks of the festival.

The Churches of Avignon

The popes gave rise to many churches in the 14th century, and bear witness to the religious impact on the city.

Avignon City Walls

You can see the medieval walls of the city as soon as you walk out of the Avignon centre rail station, and its well worth taking a walk around them. It's a walk of about a mile and half.

Musée du Petit Palais

The Musée du Petit Palais is a museum and art gallery, opened in 1976. It has an exceptional collection of Renaissance paintings, which reunites many "primitives" from the collection of Giampietro Campana. It is housed in a 14th century building at the north side of the square overlooked by the Palais des Papes.

The Jean Vilar House

The Maison Jean Vilar is the depository of the work of the Avignon Theatre Festival's creator and testifies to his contribution to contemporary theatre.

Barthelasse Island

The largest river island in France, covering 700 hectares, which offers magnificent views of the St Benezet Bridge, the Palais des Papes and the city walls. You can get to it by river taxi or by walking over the road bridge.

Avignon River Ferry

This free service operates every 15 minutes connecting the two banks of the River Rhone. Get on close to the Pont St Benezet.

Rocher des Doms Gardens

Right above the Palais des Papes rae these beautiful gardens that offer great views over the River Rhone, and the bridge below.

Cruising on the Rhone

The are a large number of river cruises from Avignon, with durations anything from a week to a half day. if you are interested in a river cruise holiday try Great Rail Journeys or Travelsphere.

Avignon Wine Tours

No visit to Avignon would be complete without a visit to the Chateauneuf du Papes wine growers. You can get organised tours from the tourist office situated in the centre of town.

Museums of Avignon

Visit the contemporary art collection of Yvon Lambert at the Caumont city mansion, or the Calvet Museum with prehistoric, Egyptian, Greek and Roman artefacts, or the the Anglodon Museum with works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Modigliani. Finally, try the Louis Vouland Foundation Museum with decorative arts from the 17th and 18th centuries.

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