Avignon (France): How to get there, what to see in the city and around, photos. Avignon - a mysterious city in France Where is Avignon in France

The city of Avignon in France is mentioned in a funny children's song. Everyone who studies French has heard these funny poems set to a simple melody at least once. The song constantly repeats the phrase sur le pont d'Avignon on y dance, which translated means dancing on the Avignon bridge.

The Rhone is considered a great river in France. It originates in the glacier of the same name, located in Switzerland. Most of the Rhone riverbed is on French soil. The river flows in Lyon and Avignon.

The latter arose on its left bank in ancient times. Tradition says that a simple shepherd Benedict proposed to build a bridge across the river so that people and animals could easily cross to the other side. The townspeople decided that this was an impossible task, but when they saw that the shepherd was being helped by angels, they set to work with zeal.

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The Saint-Benez bridge, named after Benedict, was built in the 12th century. It consisted of 22 spans and was considered a very strong structure for its time. However, constant floods gradually destroyed the frame of the bridge. Only 4 spans of Saint-Benez have survived to this day, which are a local attraction along with ancient castles and museums.

Despite the available information about the construction and reconstruction of this structure, vacationers in Avignon, whose reviews are always positive, sometimes wonder why they don’t dance on the Saint Benedict Bridge.

Annecy France

City location

If you look for Avignon on a map of France, you can find it in the southeastern part. It is the prefecture of the district of the same name and the department of Vaucluse. These administrative-territorial units belong to the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.

You can get to the city from almost anywhere in France by rail. The TGV high-speed line passes through Avignon, so the journey even from remote regions of the country will not take very long.

The Paris-Avignon train travels for about 3 hours. He stops at a suburban station. It's called Avignon TGV. Here you need to change trains to get to the city center. The journey will take only 5 minutes.

Avignon is located in such a way that it is easy to reach other large and interesting cities in the region. Marseille is of particular interest to lovers of France. This large port is considered the capital of Provence.

You can get to the ancient center of French sailors and traders in just 1-1.5 hours by train. The distance from Marseille to Avignon is just under 100 km. You can also overcome it by bus or car.

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The ancient city of Arles is a 20-minute drive from Avignon. It contains the best examples of Roman architecture, including fragments of the fortress walls and amphitheater that have survived to this day. Arles-Avignon trains run regularly between these locations. Therefore, getting to the neighboring canton will not be difficult.

The proximity and small size of these cities is the reason why even the local football club has a double name. The Arles-Avignon team is officially considered the latter's team. Players perform at the Parc du Sport stadium. However, FC Arles-Avignon has struggled in recent years and has been relegated to the Championnat de France amateur, meaning the club's amateur rather than professional status.

Climate and nature of Avignon

The ancient city stands on the banks of a river, which has a certain influence on weather conditions. In addition to the deep Rhone, Avignon is influenced by the Mediterranean Sea. The climate here is moderate continental, with distinct seasons. In summer it gravitates more towards the Mediterranean type.

Saint Paul de Vence

From June to August, the weather in Avignon can be pleasant for 14 days or more with high temperatures. However, often the summer heat is suddenly interrupted by torrential rains, accompanied by strong gusts of wind. The city also receives a lot of rainfall in autumn and spring. In winter, temperatures usually drop to 0°C, but strong winds create the feeling of a real hard frost.

Tourists love to visit these places in summer. As the weather permits, Avignon is awash in green parks and gardens during the warmer months, creating excellent conditions for leisurely walks and romantic evenings in the open air.

But the most favorable month for traveling to the city is September. The summer heat has already subsided with the onset of early autumn, and the chilly days have not yet made themselves felt. Although the ancient medieval architecture, which attracts hundreds of history buffs every year, is beautiful at any time of the year.

What to see in Avignon?

On weekends it is almost impossible to find a parking space here. The number of people coming here is so large that sometimes it is even impossible to quickly pass oncoming pedestrians on the narrow streets of the Old Town. Streams of people usually lead to the Palais des Papes in Avignon.

This is a unique medieval building that was built over 30 years. The monumental architecture of the facade fully meets the requirements of the richest people of its time. We are talking about the pontiffs who made Avignon the center of the Christian Catholic Church and ruled it from here for almost 70 years.

Cap Ferrat

This period of history was called the Avignon Captivity of the Popes. Fleeing from the danger threatening Rome, religious leaders, at the invitation of the king, moved the Holy See to a calmer place. Thus, the Catholic Church gained security, and the French monarch strengthened his power.

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The Papal Palace in Avignon is a well-fortified castle with towers and a courtyard. The inside of the building is not as luxurious as the outside. After another fire that engulfed the city, only 1 room survived almost in its original form. But it also conveys well the luxury in which the Roman Catholic Church bathed in the Middle Ages. Amazingly beautiful paintings dating back to the 14th century have been preserved on the walls.

The Papal Palace in Avignon is very large. It will take several hours to examine it. This is one of the 3 main attractions of the city, which is worth paying special attention to. The residence of the pontiff is one of the three monuments included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Along with it, the 12th century cathedral appears on this list. Notre-Dame de Dome and the famous Pont Saint Benedict. Its 4 remaining spans were reconstructed in the 14th century, and in the center of the bridge the Church of St. Nicholas was preserved.

Other iconic places and events of the city

Avignon, whose sights can be seen from a large observation deck, belongs to a small number of ancient cities that have preserved their fortress walls. Some of their fragments date back to the era of Ancient Rome. The main part was built in the 12th-14th centuries.

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Avignon is the main city of the district of the same name in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. The city is located in the southeast of France, on the left bank of the Rhône river (Rona). The name comes from the name Avennius of one of the Gallic tribes.

City `s history

A trading settlement on the site of present-day Avignon has been mentioned since the 5th century. BC e. Then the city belonged to the Gauls, Romans (Avenio), Burgundians, Ostrogoths, and Franks. Entering from the 11th century. to the Holy Roman Empire, ruled by the Counts of Provence.

Most of the 14th century. Avignon was the residence of the popes who bought the city. This circumstance contributed to its flourishing. During the period called the “Avignon Captivity of the Popes,” the famous Papal Palace, churches, houses for church hierarchs were built, and a university was founded. After the return of the papal throne to Rome, the Italian clergy maintained a strong position in the city. In the Middle Ages, it controlled the sale of sand used for glass production located near the city.

Hard times came for Avignon at the end of the 18th century. The city was occupied by French revolutionaries, displacing the Italian church hierarchs. The bloody conflict between supporters and opponents of the revolution was even called the “Avignon massacre.” The city's population has decreased several times.

Then, as part of France, Avignon was an ordinary provincial city with developed silk weaving. After the construction of the railway in the 19th century. trade in agricultural products revived, urban planning reforms were carried out. A movement of writers writing in Provençal gained strength in the city.

In the 20th century further growth of the city was noted. After the war, a major theater festival began to be held in Avignon, the university reopened, and the tourism infrastructure began to develop.

The city today

Avignon has a population of 90 thousand people. Part of the population are descendants of immigrants, mainly from Algeria, who appeared in the city in the 60s of the last century.

Avignon's Mediterranean climate is characterized by dry, hot summers and often snowless winters. Spring and autumn, on the contrary, are rainy. September, which is comfortable for many other cities, is characterized by heavy rains accompanied by stormy winds. Windy weather is generally typical of the city.

Transport and fares

Russian tourists usually get to Avignon by train from Marseille or Paris, which are connected by direct flights to Moscow. The nearest international airport (105 km) is in Marseille. From the Aéroport de Marseille Provence, high-speed TGV trains take passengers to the Avignon TGV station at Place de l'Europe in 35 minutes. Ticket price - 20-30 EUR. From Marseille you can also take a bus to Avignon's Gare Routière bus station (5 boulevard Saint-Roch). The trip will cost about half as much, but will take 1.5 hours.

Arrive at another train station, Centre-ville (42 boulevard Saint-Roch). high-speed TGV trains from Paris. But Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is located 600 km from Avignon, so TGV trains travel for about 3 hours, and for a ticket from Paris you will need to pay approximately 60 EUR.

The city's convenient location and extensive bus network make Avignon a convenient starting point for visiting many nearby Provençal towns.

Intracity transport is represented by 23 bus routes. The ticket costs 1.3 EUR. Once composted, it is valid for an hour. A subscription of 10 tickets will cost 10 EUR, and a day pass will cost 3.6. You can rent a bicycle for 1 EUR per day (and 5 EUR per week).

Accommodation and accommodation

Searching for a hotel on Booking.com using traditional criteria - price segment 50 EUR - 100 EUR, 3 stars, regular hotel in the center, brought up 7 hotels. The most advantageous discount offer - 55.3 EUR per day, was at the Kyriad Avignon-Palais des Papes hotel, whose name indicates an excellent location (26, Place de l'horloge). For the morning breakfast I paid another 9.5 EUR.

The location is even better at the Hôtel du Palais des Papes (3, Place Du Palais). But you had to pay 80 EUR for it plus 12.5 for breakfast. Other search results:

• Hotel Danieli;
• Hotel Central;
• ibis Avignon Center Pont De L"Europe;
• ibis Avignon Center Gare;
• Hotel d'Angleterre.

Those wishing to visit Avignon during the summer theatrical Festival d'Avignon should do so months in advance. They should also be prepared for increased prices.

Where to eat deliciously and inexpensively

The cuisine of Avignon is relatively simple compared to the culinary delights of other French regions. Spices, olives, and garlic are widely used. Many housewives are familiar with the Herbs de Provence seasoning, which includes about a dozen components. Popular local dishes - Bouillabaisse fish soup, stew Pot-au-feu, vegetables - stewed Ratatouille and baked Tian. Wines predominate among drinks - red Cotes-du-Rhone-Village, pink Saint-Gervais, white Laudun.

Among the budget catering establishments, one can highlight the Italian and French restaurant Le Petit Gourmand at 37 rue Vieux Sextier. I can confirm the validity of many positive reviews about it. Signature beef with herbs, ravioli with mushrooms, pasta with excellent taste chocolate are combined with the friendly homely atmosphere of the establishment. Other points with affordable prices:

• restaurant D'ici et d'ailleurs ( 4 rue Galante, except Sunday and Monday) with a set of Provençal dishes for 15 EUR - 20 EUR;
• Grand Cafe du Commerce ( 21 rue St-Jean-de-Vieux);
• Utopia Bar ( 4 rue Escallier Ste-Anne) near the Papal Palace.

City attractions

I began my acquaintance with the city traditionally - with an excursion on tourist transport. The Le Petit Train d'Avignon takes 40 minutes and 4 EUR to travel around the main iconic places of the city.

The compact historical part of Avignon is clearly demarcated by the surrounding, well-preserved City Wall. Remparts. Its length is 4330 m.

Papal Palace

The main attraction of Avignon is the Palais des Papes from the 14th century. One of the largest Gothic palaces on the planet is a UNESCO heritage site. The Papal Palace is located on a rocky hill in the northern part of the city.

Chronologically, the (Old) Palais Vieux palace with a monastery, surrounded by powerful walls with towers, was built first. A few decades later, it was supplemented by the New Palais Neuf with a chapel for worship, two more towers and a courtyard. The total area of ​​the palace exceeded 11 thousand m².

The interiors were decorated with numerous frescoes, paintings, sculptures, tapestries and wood carvings. Particularly impressive were the papal chambers and the frescoes of the 14th century Italian artist. Matteo Giovannetti. At the end of the 18th century. The Papal Palace was destroyed by revolutionary vandals. In it they executed many of their opponents. Then, under Napoleon, barracks were placed here, stables were built from wooden parts of the interior, and the frescoes were painted over.

The restoration of the Papal Palace was carried out only at the beginning of the 20th century. But the former splendor was restored only in fragments. Fortunately, in the chapels of St. John and St. Martial restored frescoes by Giovanetti, telling about the lives of numerous saints. And in the Hall of Audience, 18 prophets of the Old Testament are depicted by the same artist. The painting of a golden vine with birds on a blue background, decorating the papal Bedchamber in the Tower of Angels, is very beautiful.

After restoration, most of the premises became available to tourists. They can visit the palace from 9 to 18-20 hours. The ticket costs 10.5 EUR. You can also purchase another ticket for 13 EUR, which includes a visit to the Benezier Bridge. And in the souvenir shop they sell wine named after the popes of Avignon. This should not be considered sacrilege: most of them did not live a righteous life. In particular, the great native of the city, the poet Francesco Petrarca, wrote about this.

Benezier Bridge

Pont Saint Benezet was built in the 12th century. According to legend, once in the mountains the shepherd Bénézier heard a voice from heaven ordering the construction of a bridge across the Rhone to begin. The townspeople, of course, laughed at him. The prelate, however, decided to find out whether the heavenly powers were really speaking through the shepherdess, and ordered him to lift and throw a huge stone into the river. To the amazement of those gathered, Benezier did this by claiming that the angels had helped him.

The command of heaven turned out to be very useful for the city. For a long time, the bridge built was the only one across the Rhone for the entire area. Therefore, the city received significant income from the passage of merchants with goods along it. And now from being destroyed by another flood in the 17th century. Almost a kilometer long bridge, only four impressive arches have been preserved.

Notre-Dame de Dome

The main religious building was built in the 12th century. Avignon Cathedral or Notre-Dame des Doms. The main component of the façade is the gilded statue of the Virgin Mary mounted on the western tower. With one hand she protects, and with the other she blesses him. The sculpture of the Virgin Mary brings a warm note to the austere Romanesque façade.

The mixture of styles is also felt in the interior. The galleries and balustrade of the Baroque balconies are in some dissonance with the rest of the interior decoration. It features a 14th century Gothic mausoleum. Pope John XXII, white marble bishop's chair, frescoes "Allegory of Death" and "Baptism of Christ" in the narthex, and "Seated Virgin Mary" on the drum of the dome.

What else to do in the city

The authoritative theater festival Festival d'Avignon lasts 3 weeks of July. It attracts many professional troupes and theatergoers. During these weeks, several hundred thousand people come to the city. The main performances are held in the open air with the natural scenery of the Papal Palace. In 2018, the festival will be held with July 6 to July 24. Throughout the year, more than a dozen professional troupes constantly perform at other venues in the city.

The city is also famous for its jazz traditions. Musicians of this genre are frequent guests of the city. Daily improvisation evenings take place at the jazz cafe La Manutention.

On a large island in the middle of the Rhone there is an amusement park called Ile de la Barthelasse. From Avignon you can get there by free ferry. In addition to the park itself, there is a farmer's market, equestrian and paintball clubs, restaurants, and hotels.

There are many museums in the city. Not far from the Papal Palace, in the gallery Petit Palais, There is an excellent collection of paintings and sculptures from the 13th to 15th centuries. The paintings of Italian Renaissance artists predominate. The pride of the exhibition is “Madonna and Child” by Botticelli. Address: Place du Palais des Papes. Opening hours - 10-18 with a break at 13-14, day off - Tuesday, ticket price - 6 EUR.

In the artistic Musee Calvet, named after its founder - a local philanthropist of the 19th century, you can see porcelain, European paintings, tapestries, and works of applied art. Part of the collection consists of former exhibits from the Louvre. The museum is located at 65, Rue Joseph Vernet. It is open every day, except Tuesday, from 10 to 18, with an hour break at 13-14. Ticket price - 6 EUR.

In the Avignon suburb of Châteauneuf du Pape there is a wine museum called Maison Brotte. In it, as part of a tourist tour, you can get acquainted with the local soil, stages and tools of growing grapes. Of course, there is the possibility of tasting and purchasing wines.

While in Avignon (especially with a rented or your own car), it would be a shame not to take the opportunity to see two interesting caves in its vicinity. One of them is Grotte de Saint Marcel, the largest in Europe. It stretches for 58 km. The other is Grotte Chauvet (otherwise Chauvet-Pont-d "Arc or la Combe d" Arc). Its walls are covered with hundreds of animal paintings dating back to the 30th millennium BC. e. The air temperature in this cave constantly remains at +10°C.

Conclusion

Avignon is a colorful Provençal city. Here you can fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere of this French region without the fuss and high prices inherent in the popular Nice and Cannes. The city is interesting for its history, architectural monuments, and the ringing of numerous bells heard through the street noise.

A small town in the south of France, Avignon, is notable not only for its rich history and the majestic papal palace of the 14th century, but also for the fact that it is one of the most convenient and not too expensive places from where you can plan your holiday in France and Provence.

In the first part, I will tell you about the sights of Avignon and all the basic tourist information - how to get there and where is the best place to stay in Avignon, and in the second I will take a photo walk around this French city and tell you what interesting things I found there during my holiday in France.

Avignon is the birthplace of Petrarch and Mireille Mathieu, the capital of the Vaucluse department - a large region in the south of France, which is famous for the same perfume factories that are famous throughout the world. A large number of young people live here and quite a few musical events are held, which, combined with the medieval solid architecture, creates a unique atmosphere of this small French town.

Blooming gardens everywhere, thick gray walls like from a computer game about knights and crusades, wide avenues, the singing of strange birds and the hooting of an owl in the very center of the city - this is what I now associate this city with.

We visited Avignon twice - going to the small town of Apt from Paris and on the way back from Provence to Marseille airport.

The more popular tourist cities in the south of France - Nice and Cannes - are much more often visited by tourists, but, as expected, they are much more expensive. Hotels, taxis, food in restaurants will be more expensive in these cities.

So, if you don’t want to “compare show-offs and diamonds” with the pretentious public of the Cote d’Azur and want to look at one of the brightest cities of French Provence, you should start your trip to the South of France from here. Moreover, Avignon has everything for a good holiday: medieval sights, musical and theatrical events, delicious food and tede and tepe.)))

Avignon is a small city, so if you wish, you can explore it all in a couple of days without much rush. There shouldn’t be any problems with drawing up a route either, everything here is located quite close to each other and you won’t especially get lost (under the description of the attractions I will place a map of Avignon with my own marks).

Avignon is a real landmark of France, a place where European history was once made. For a long time, namely from 69 years (1309-1378), Avignon was the residence of the Popes; that period was called the “Avignon Captivity of the Popes” during which time a papal palace was built here, and in 1303 a university was founded.

The city of Avignon has been known since Ancient Roman times, when it was the capital of the Gallic Cavar tribe. In the Middle Ages, the city was ruled by the popes, who ceded it to France in a peace treaty in 1787. Near the city there are deposits of high-quality sand, which was used to make glass. The sale of this sand brought good income to the papacy. Throughout its history, Avignon has more than once become the residence of unrecognized popes.

If you are not too fond of walking or are traveling with children, then for a quick tour of the historical city center, you can take a ride around Avignon on a miniature tourist train - Le Petit Train d'Avignon, which passes through the main tourist locations of Avignon and is periodically found on the narrow streets of this town. For a 40-minute excursion they charge only 4 €.

Avignon stands on the banks of picturesque rivers Ron And Durance, whose valleys are rich in limestone rocks, from which many of the city's buildings were built, including the city's fortifications.

The river embankment is a great place for walking, which both locals and tourists do here.

And now about the Avignon attractions themselves:

Avignon City Wall:

The symbol of the old part of Avignon is the City Wall, almost 5 km long. This wall was built in the 14th - 15th centuries and is one of the oldest medieval buildings in Europe.

Papal Palace:

The main attraction of Avignon is the same papal palace (fr. Palais des papes d'Avignon) , listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Construction of the Papal Palace began in 1316 and was completed in 1370.

The Papal Palace was built in 2 stages under the reign of different popes, and in accordance with them is divided into the Old Palace of Benedict XII ( Palais vieux de Benoît XII) and the New Palace of Clement VI ( Palais neuf de Clément VI). Named after the popes under whom the buildings were erected.

The palace is located on 11 thousand sq. km and has 12 towers, each of which has its own rather bloody history.

The Papal Palace of Avignon is a more “simplified” and harsher version of the luxurious Vatican. The real Middle Ages reign here. Paintings and frescoes by Italian artists are also present in the Avignon Palace, but opposite the Vatican, the Avignon Palace looks like just a country house.

Perhaps also because the popes did not manage here for so long and left only part of their wealth. It is possible that during the French Revolution in 1789 the palace was captured and plundered by rebels, who carried out a bloody reprisal against the oppressors of the working people and subsequently turned the palace into a barracks and prison.

Only in 1906 did the French authorities restore the Papal Palace and organize a museum there, which today anyone can visit how they lived at the Papal court in the 14th century.

The palace is also the venue for the annual theater festival(Festival d’Avignon), which has been held here in mid-July since 1947.

During our visit to the palace we saw active preparations for this event.

I'll show you a few photos of the Papal Palace of Avignon:

The cost of a tour of the palace is 11 euros, you can take headphones with an audio guide, or join a group with a real guide. (I’ll leave a link to the service with excursions below).

Official website of the Papal Palace: http://www.palais-des-papes.com

Here, like in any museum, there is a souvenir shop, I’ll show you what you can buy here.

Of course, they sell wine here. But not a simple one, but a nominal one, named after the Avignon popes. Branded ceramics, Provençal herbs, and various knightly paraphernalia, such as cardboard knightly helmets or medieval “soldiers”:

Pont Saint-Bénézier or “bridge to nowhere”:

Another interesting and recognizable landmark of Avignon is Bridge of Saint-Bénézet (French: Pont Saint-Bénézet) or “the bridge that leads to nowhere”, because out of 22 spans there are now only 4 left and it now simply breaks off in the middle of the Rhone River, where it was built in the 12th century.

The Avignon Bridge became famous throughout the world in the 15th century after the French children's song “Sur Le Pont d’Avignon” (“On the Bridge in Avignon”) was dedicated to it.

True, this song says absolutely nothing about this bridge. So, I'll tell you.

According to legend, the shepherd Benedict, who later became Saint Benezier, in 1177 he heard a voice from heaven calling for the construction of a bridge across the Rhone to begin. Benoit, who descended from Mount Ardèche, informed the people of Avignon about this, who quite expectedly laughed at him and called him crazy.

Thank you that he was not immediately sent to the stake for this, as was customary in those ancient times. Simply, the prelate ordered him to put a huge stone on himself and throw it into the river.

According to eyewitnesses, the young shepherd boy, without hesitating for a second, easily completed this test, later saying that angels helped him. Eyewitnesses confirmed it. After which everyone, of course, believed the shepherdess, created the “Bridge Brotherhood” and began to build the bridge.

Construction of the bridge lasted 14 years. It was completed in 1185. Initially there were 22 spans, but they were destroyed due to frequent floods, so the bridge had to be reconstructed, reducing the number of spans. Now there are only four of them left.

Shepherd Benedict was buried in a small chapel right on the bridge. But fearing another destruction of the structure, his remains were transferred to the mainland.

Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Dome

Another major attraction is Avignon Cathedral (French: Cathédrale Notre-Dame des Doms d’Avignon), built in the 12th century, decorated with a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary placed on the western tower.

The cathedral contains the mausoleum of Pope John XXII, the interior is decorated with Gothic carvings from the 14th century.

If you wish, in Avignon you can dive even deeper into the study of architectural and historical monuments; there are quite a few of them here, like in almost any other European city.

Cathedrals and basilicas around Avignon:

Avignon is generally rich in religious attractions and, if desired, you can visit not only the most popular among tourists, for example:

• Cathedral Ancienne cathédrale Notre-Dame de Nazareth, Orange, 20.9 km from the center.
• Cathedral Ancienne cathédrale Notre-Dame et Saint-Véran, Cavaillon, 21.6 km from the center.
• Cathedral Ancienne cathédrale Saint-Siffrein, Carpentras, 21.8 km from the center.
• Cathedral Ancienne cathédrale Saint-Théodorit, Uzès, 32.3 km from the center.
• Cathedral Basilique Saint-Trophime, Arles, 34 km from the center.
• Chapelle Saint-Honorat Church, Arles, 34.2 km from the center.
• Cathedral Ancienne cathédrale Notre-Dame de Nazareth et Saint-Quentin, Vaison-la-Romaine, 38.2 km from the center.

But even those I have listed should be enough for a cultural and tourist acquaintance with the city.

Among alternative attractions, I can draw your attention to the local entertainment island, which can be of interest to both adults and children.

Ile de la Barthelasse

The amusement park Ile de la Barthelasse is located on a beautiful island in the middle of the Rhone, which is the largest river island in Europe and covers an area of ​​about 700 hectares.

In addition to the park, the island has restaurants, hotels, equestrian and paintball clubs, and even a real farmer’s market, because right there on the island they actively engage in agriculture, growing tomatoes and seasonal berries and fruits.

The island is also very convenient for cycling.

You can get to Ile de la Barthelasse in Avignon by free ferry.

Sights of Avignon on the map:

The city of Avignon on the map of France:

As I have already noted, Avignon has a well-developed transport infrastructure with a conveniently located train and bus station from where you can easily go explore the French beauty of the entire French Luberon, even without much need to rent a car.

Almost all guided tours around Provence are organized from here from Avignon: lavender fields, the most beautiful villages of Provence (I recently told you about one of them).

In addition, there are regular buses to almost all important cities and villages in France at quite reasonable prices. You can go to the same place by bus for only 2 euros.

Well, or, for example, in the morning you can go to see where Van Gogh lived and worked, as well as to a real French amphitheater, where bullfights take place to this day, and in the evening return to your hotel in Avignon.

You can get to the center of Avignon by bus number 21 (they run regularly). The bus arrives at the bus station, which is located on Boulevard Saint-Roch on the ground floor of the railway station. The information desk at the bus station is open from 10:15 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00, closed on Saturday and Sunday. The tickets themselves are sold on the buses.

From Avignon city bus station you can take a bus to the following places (and vice versa):

• Aix-en-Provence for 13.9 euros, 1 hour travel
• Arles for 7.1 euros, 1.5 hours on the road
• Carpentre for 4.2 euros, 45 minutes
• Marseille for 20 euros, 35 minutes
• Nimes for 7.6 euros, 1 hour 15 minutes
• Orange for 5.6 euros, 40 minutes.

This approach will allow you to see much more of the interesting things in France without all this packing and unpacking of your suitcase and changing hotels, which in any traveling trip always takes a lot of time and effort.

Neighborhoods of Avignon:

If you are traveling by car, you may find useful information about the variety of attractions that can be found in the Avignon area.

The largest cave in Europe is located near Avignon Grotte de Saint Marcel(58 km in length). Also in the Provence - Alpes - Côte d'Azur region there is a famous cave Grotte Chauvet(Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc or la Combe d’Arc), the walls of which are painted with 420 images of animals that are more than 30,000 years old. The air temperature in the cave always remains at +10°C.

Castles in Avignon and nearby:

• Castle ‘Château de Fort Saint-André’ Gard, 2.2 km from the center.
• Castle ‘Château de Thouzon’ Vaucluse, 13.5 km from the center.
• Castle ‘Château de Saint-Maurice’ Hérault, 17.3 km from the center.
• Castle ‘Château de Tarascon’ Bouches-du-Rhône, 20.6 km from the center.
• Castle ‘Château de Beaucaire’ Gard, 20.8 km from the center.

City and national parks in and around Avignon:

• Regional Natural Park ‘Alpilles’, 17.8 km from the center.
• Regional Natural Park ‘Luberon’, 43.3 km from the center
• Regional Natural Park ‘Camargue’, 52.7 km from the center.
• Regional Natural Park ‘Baronnies provençales’, 62.9 km from the center.
• Regional Natural Park ‘Monts d’Ardèche’, 88.1 km from the center.

Art galleries of Avignon:

• Art gallery ‘Musée du Petit Palais’ Avignon, 0.9 km from the center.
• Art gallery ‘Musée Angladon’ Avignon, 0.9 km from the center.
• Art gallery ‘Fondation Calvet’ Avignon, 1.1 km from the center.
• Art gallery ‘Musée de l Arles et de la Provence antiques’ Arles, 34.8 km from center

How to get to Avignon:

Just 8 km from Avignon there is its own airport, Aéroport d'Avignon - Caumont, but it is easier to get to Avignon through Marseille (Aéroport de Marseille Provence), which lies only 105 km in a southeast direction.

The Moscow-Marseille flight will cost less and there will be many more flights here.

You can get from Marseille to Avignon (and back) by high-speed train of the TGV lines; the train takes about half an hour and costs 20-30 euros. Tickets for trains in France can be bought either on the website of the largest railway carrier in France - SNCF, or on the GoEuro website, where you can immediately find offers for trains and buses across Europe (besides, there is also a Russian-language version).

Please note that there are two railway stations in Avignon:

• railway station Center-ville on the Boulevard Saint-Roch, where mainly TER (local) trains and some TGV trains from Paris arrive;
• railway stationTGV located 4 km from the city center in the Courtine area on the Place de l'Europe, serves up to 60 TGV trains daily to destinations such as Marseille, Lyon, Dijon, Lille, Rennes, Nantes, Geneva, Brussels and in the summer London and Ashford .

Regular city bus services run between the stations.

The cost of a ticket for travel on a city bus is 1.3 € (the ticket is valid for an hour from the moment of activation), 10 tickets - 10 €, a day pass ticket - 3.6 €.

At Vélopop station you can rent a bicycle for trips around the city for 1 € per day or 5 € per week.

If you are traveling around France with your own or rented car, then you should keep in mind that there are free and paid parking lots in the city, as well as parking with limited time (in the territory of the Papal Palace and on the embankment).

The white color of the parking lot means that the stopping time is limited to 4 hours, the cost per hour is 0.38 €; blue - 3 hours, 0.67 € per hour; green - 2 hours, 1 € per hour; orange - 1 hour, 2 € per hour.

Hotels in Avignon:

In Avignon, it is best to stay close to the Papal Palace or in the central area of ​​Avignon, but if you intend to use Avignon as a stopover city for traveling around France and Provence by public transport, it is best to stay between the Palais des Papes and the Gare Avignon TGV station.

Hotels near the station:

• Les Studios de la Madeleine is the hotel that we chose and which we liked 150%; the superior room was especially good, which the owner provided even without additional payment. The rooms are spacious in Provencal style, have a fully equipped kitchen, each room has a separate entrance and has access to a patio with a small, but so necessary in the heat, pool. The cost of accommodation is from 5 thousand per night. According to the hotel's rules, you can stay here for a minimum of 2 nights.
• ibis Avignon Center Gare and Novotel Avignon Center are chain hotels located near the train station in Avignon. Novotel is more expensive, but also higher class. Ibis hotel price - from 5 thousand per night, Novotel from 11 thousand.

If you want to stay in the immediate center of all cultural and city events, then hotels in the center are suitable:

• Hôtel Danieli is an excellent hotel on the main street of Avignon - with cafes, McDonald's, supermarkets and shops nearby. Price from 5 thousand per night
• Mercure Pont d'Avignon Center - located literally "wall-to-wall" with the Papal Palace and next to the Pont d'Avignon bridge. The hotel serves breakfast daily under a glass rooftop and offers views of Avignon under the rising sun. Price from 10 thousand per night.
• Cité des Pape s - Apartment in a historical building in the central part of Avignon located very close to the main attractions. Nearby is a supermarket and a local bakery. Price - from 24 thousand per room for up to 6 people for 2 nights. In general, an excellent option for large families or companies.
• Hôtel du Palais des Papes - excellent location of the hotel, right on the square in front of the Papes Palace, from the hotel this square is in full view, the hotel is very atmospheric with excellent breakfasts. The hotel building, built in 1921, is the former Spanish consulate and is now a state monument. Price from 8 thousand per night

Excursions in Avignon:

I hope you find my article about the attractions of Avignon useful. In the next part (and maybe in several 8) I will tell you where we lived in Avignon, what delicious things we ate there and what interesting things we saw besides the sights I described. Well, let's take a walk around a typical flea market, I really love such events.

Sights of Avignon. The most important and interesting sights of Avignon - photos and videos, descriptions and reviews, location, websites.

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Papal Palace in Avignon

Avignon, Place du Palais

The Papal Palace in Avignon was probably not missed by any of the tourists who came to the city, and this is natural: a rare example of medieval Gothic architecture, the largest Gothic palace in Europe, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, one of the most visited tourist sites in France.

Avignon has a huge number of attractions - impressive even by French standards. This is due to the uniqueness of the city’s history, the peculiarities of the geographical location, and many other factors. Almost all interesting buildings are located in the old part of the city, which is very small in size.

This place has been inhabited since prehistoric times, then the city became a Greek colony, then a Roman one, it was captured by the Goths, Saracens, Moors and warlike neighbors, until in 1309 Avignon became the residence of the pope - the head of the Catholic Church. The papal throne moved back to the Vatican after 70 years, but during the “Avignon Papacy” the next pope bought the city as the property of the church, and until nationalization during the French Revolution it remained there. Each of the stages of history affected Avignon, and their traces can be seen.

The oldest monuments date back to the era of Greek and Roman rule. Very few of them have survived here - much less than in other ancient cities of Provence, and the largest element is the remains of the Roman forum on Place de l’Horloge. Besides it, small fragments of the foundations of buildings protrude here and there, the most remarkable one is probably behind the Papal Palace.

The Papal Palace was built in the 14th century as the residence of the pope - the head of the Catholic Church; it is a huge palace-castle surrounded by tall walls.

It is not the Roman monuments that make Avignon the center of tourism. This is exactly what the complex is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and it consists of three parts: the Palace of the Popes, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Dome and the Avignon Bridge (another name is the Saint-Benezet Bridge). These are attractions of the category that should not be missed. The Papal Palace was built in the 14th century as the residence of the pope; it is a huge palace-castle surrounded by high walls. The buildings and walls are well preserved; the interior decoration has survived in few places (but where it has been preserved, there are such stunning paintings that it is impossible to look away). You need at least three hours to explore: it is very large (it is the largest medieval Gothic palace in Europe), and there is a lot to see.

The Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Dome was founded in the 12th century, it was built in the Provençal version of the Romanesque style. This is an interesting building with a lot of unexpected details and unique frescoes from the 13th century. A lot of historical events are connected with the cathedral; once upon a time, masses were celebrated here by the pope, the head of the Catholic Church. The Avignon Bridge (more precisely, its remains) was built at the end of the 12th - beginning of the 13th century, collapsed in the 14th, was rebuilt - and its four surviving arches date back to this time. Once upon a time he crossed the state border (it ran along the river). Above one of its parts (right in the middle of the span) is the small but very beautiful Church of St. Nicholas, its different parts dating back to the 12th-15th centuries. An unusual, bright complex, be sure to check it out.

Another rare element that should not be missed are the city walls.

Avignon is one of the few cities in France where they have been preserved. The first city walls were built by the Romans, but only a few small fragments remained of them; later the walls were demolished several times and rebuilt, each time moving outward - the city grew. The walls that we see now date back to the 12th-15th centuries, and most of them have survived. The watchtowers date back to the same time, but the gates are also partly old and partly new (they were created in the 19th and 20th centuries to give way to public transport). In general, the level of preservation is very high. The walls are also worth seeing, they are very rare.

As in any ancient city, in Avignon most of the monuments are churches. The first of them were founded very early - in the 7th century, such as the Church of St. Agricola, decorated with fancy chapels, or the famous St. Peter's Basilica - a wonderful Gothic building, unlike many others, well preserved inside. There is also the Saint-Symphorien-les-Carmes church built in the 12th century - the remnant of the Carmelite monastery, the Celestine Church - the remnant of the Celestine monastery, and the Church of St. Didier of the same era. The peculiarity of the Avignon churches is that almost all of them were destroyed during the Saracen invasion, and therefore the ancient version of the interior design was not preserved in them.

Another large group of attractions are the cardinal's residences. During the centuries that Avignon belonged to the church, there were many cardinals here, and many of their palaces around the city also survived. The most famous is the Petit Palais, that is, the Small Palace, built in the 14th century. Mostly they date back to the 15th-17th centuries, some of which can be viewed from the inside. Some of them are occupied by museums.

But in general, to be honest, it’s difficult to talk about the sights of Avignon: its entire Old Town inside the city walls is one big attraction.

This is not an exaggeration: there are more than 200 buildings built before the beginning of the 18th century; there are very few new buildings here. There are houses from the 14th and 15th centuries, and others older, and the cardinal's residences are just some of them. Take a walk around the Old Town inside the walls - it is very atmospheric, look at the streets, especially the oldest ones - pedestrian ones, you will see a lot of interesting things.

When getting to know Provence, you first of all need to understand a little about its territorial division.

Avignon, as the main city of the Vaucluse department (the same Vaucluse glorified by the English writer Peter Mayle!) can be an excellent starting point during your trip to this part of Provence. The large city of 90 thousand is located on the border of three departments - Vaucluse, Garde and Bouches-du-Rhone.

The conflict was that Avignon for some time (namely 69 years) became the residence of the Catholic popes (instead of Rome), and it was during this period that a palace appropriate for the level of church hierarchs was built. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The second most famous landmark of Avignon is the medieval bridge Saint-Benez XIII century, spanning the Rhone River.

Order an individual walking tour tour of Avignon with a guide here(up to 9 people, instant order confirmation)

The closest international airport to Avignon is Marseille-Provence Airport (82 kilometers). Direct trains depart from Marseille Airport to Avignon (journey time about 1 hour), 23 times a day.

Approximate travel time by car between Avignon and Nice is 2.5 hours; Avignon and Aix-en-Provence - 1 hour; Avignon and Arles - 35 minutes, Avignon and Marseille - 1 hour, Avignon and Montpellier - 1 hour.

Please note: The TGV train station in Avignon is located outside the city center (about 4 kilometers), but since the end of 2013 a new line has opened connecting the TGV station (where all intercity trains arrive) and Avignon central station. Travel time on this route is only 6 minutes, shuttle trains taking people directly to the center of Avignon run all day from 6.00 to 20.30. Compared to buses that previously ran on this route, time is saved significantly. So traveling to this part of Provence has become even more convenient.

From Marseille to Avignon, as I already noted, you can get from both the city from the Saint-Charles train station and directly from Marseille airport. Trains run all day long, and it is not necessary to buy tickets in advance - they will be available, but more expensive than if purchased online. On the Marseille-Avignon route there are both high-speed trains (travel time less than 45 minutes) and those that will take more than an hour and a half.

Nearby

- About 30 kilometers from Avignon - village and commune Fontaine de Vaucluse(Provencal flavor of a small village and several interesting sights, the most important of which is a karst spring located in a crevice more than 300 meters deep. Keep in mind that in summer the spring is not nearly as beautiful as in spring and autumn, when the water level rises and forms a beautiful Cascade Lake). A trip to Fontaine de Vaucluse will also entail a visit to Ile-sur-la-Sorgue(about 7 kilometers from here) is a beautiful and quaint town on the water with canals, medieval monuments and many antique shops.

Les Baux de Provence and Van Gogh

- Mount Mont Ventoux(Mont-Ventoux) is the highest mountain in Provence (1909 m), located approximately 64 kilometers from Avignon. The city of Malaucene was the summer residence of the Avignon popes, and it is here that you can take it as a starting point for exploring the natural biosphere reserve of Mount Ventoux under the auspices of UNESCO. Mount Ventoux is also famous for being part of the Tour de France cycling route. Picturesque views of the surrounding area, the Alps, the territory of Provence up to the Camargue nature reserve.

- About 50 kilometers from Avignon is the red-orange village of Roussillon with its amazing ocher cliffs, included in the list of “The Most Beautiful Villages in France”. Perhaps this is one of the most incredibly beautiful places in Provence. By the way, this is not mentioned in the guidebooks - if you go for a walk in this village, take shoes that you don’t mind, because ocher dust stains everything around.

- Orange(just over 30 kilometers);

- Vaison-la-Romaine(Vaison-la-Romaine) - 50 kilometers from Avignon;

The most convenient way to travel around Provence is by car due to the underdevelopment of public transport in the French province. It is paradoxical that such a popular region among tourists has not acquired a good transport system. More precisely, there are train and bus connections between the major cities of Provence, but you need to adapt to the schedule, but getting to the most beautiful places, small charming villages, lavender fields without a car and seeing the south of France in all its splendor is almost impossible.

(the largest search engine-aggregator of leading car rental companies provides comprehensive information about the price, car equipment, insurance and other points. All you have to do is choose the best offer for you in terms of price/quality)

Avignon Photos

Papal Palace (Palais des Papes), Avignon

Here you can find and buy air tickets to Marseille at the lowest price (in the search form at the top of the article), as well as instantly compare hotel prices and choose the best offer

TOP 10 attractions of Provence

Lavender fields in Provence: Where and how to get there

Calanques: From Cassis and Marseille (famous bays - “Mediterranean fjords”)

After being fed up with Russian life, I ended up in Avignon (France) - a city where medieval castles and palaces have been preserved, called second only to Rome, where the Popes lived and ruled the world.

Instructions: How to get to Avignon?

The airport is located 9 kilometers southeast of the city. You can get to the center of Avignon by bus number 21 (they run regularly). The bus arrives at the bus station, which is located on Boulevard Saint-Roch on the ground floor of the railway station. The information desk at the bus station is open from 10:15 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00, closed on Saturday and Sunday. The tickets themselves are sold on the buses.

You can also get to the following places by bus from the city bus station (and vice versa):

• Aix-en-Provence for 13.9 euros, 1 hour travel
• Arles for 7.1 euros, 1.5 hours on the road
• Carpentre for 4.2 euros, 45 minutes
• Marseille for 20 euros, 35 minutes
• Nimes for 7.6 euros, 1 hour 15 minutes
• Orange for 5.6 euros, 40 minutes.

You can also get to Avignon by train; the city has two railway stations: Avignon-TGV and Avignon-Center (on Saint-Roch Boulevard). Trains arrive at the central station from Orange (5 euros, 20 minutes), Arles (6 euros, 20 minutes) and Nimes (7.7 euros, 30 minutes). There are regular buses from Avignon Center station to Avignon TGV (for 1.2 euros).

Lord of the waters

So, the south of France, Provence, Vaucluse department, the city of Avignon. About two thousand years ago, the Kawari people came to the local pile of rocks above the Rhone and founded the settlement of Auignon. The Romans who came later changed the name slightly to Avenio. Both of these names, however, reflected the essence of the city - Lord of the waters. The city indeed dominates the river in this area.

Such a pretty city could not be ignored, so I decided to stop here for a day to get to know it better. The Ibis Center Pont DeL'Europe hotel was chosen for accommodation. Being practically in the old city, it has a very convenient location.

The hotel is popular, as evidenced by the presence of a large number of tourists from various countries. The hotel staff tries very hard to please customers even in small things. By the way, the hotel has its own parking - a very important detail in modern French cities.

The city's attractions

Having settled in, I immediately went to get acquainted with the area. At the tourist office I took a map of the city of Avignon, the sights of which were interesting to me, in order to clarify their location.

From it I learned that the total length of the city’s fortifications is 4.8 km. They were built in 1355-1368, during the reign of Pope Innocent VI, and are very well preserved. There are 38 towers built into the walls. Eight gates lead inside the fortified part.

The main attraction of Avignon, of course, is Papal Palace(Le Palaisdes Papes).

In the 14th century, this building became the forced residence of the leadership of the Catholic Church for almost 70 years. Political turmoil in Rome forced the Pope to look for a quieter place, and King Philip the Fair of France offered him Avignon.

So the Pope received a quiet residence, and the king strengthened his power. The time that lasted from 1309 to 1377 is called the Avignon Expulsion of the Popes. During this period, seven Popes visited the throne of the Catholic Church, all of them being French by nationality.

After their return to Rome, the Popes left Avignon with a magnificent palace with richly decorated elegant spiers dominating the rest of the city's buildings. Alas, the exterior of the palace is much more impressive than the view inside.

The fact is that a fire that once broke out in the palace practically destroyed most of the interior rooms. Only one of them has been preserved in its original state, impressing visitors with its decoration.

What was interesting for me, as a Russian tourist, was the sale of tickets to the city’s museums.

First of all, the price includes an audio guide in Russian, which is great. Secondly, by taking one ticket at full price, you can additionally receive a special “Avignon Pass” card, which gives you the opportunity to purchase tickets with a 10-50% discount in other museums.

After visiting the Palais des Papes, I went to have a bite to eat at the nearby restaurant Le Lutrin, located right at the junction of two squares - Palace and picturesque Clock Square. Friendly waiters and a burning fireplace in the center of the hall complemented the good impression of delicious food and excellent wine.

After lunch, I went to see the buildings on the Roc de Dome rock.

Here, at a height of 58 meters above the river, rises Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Dome, which has a rich history and magnificent decorations.

There is a park next to the cathedral, which offers a stunning view of the Rhone River and the opposite bank.

Another prominent landmark of the city rises above the river. This is a famous one, bearing the name of Saint Benedict (Pont Saint-Benezet). Paradoxically, the children's song "Sur le Pont d'Avignon" contributed more to his celebrity.

Of course, no one ever danced on the Avignon Bridge, as stated in the song, but its history is very interesting. The bridge was built in 1185. Its construction lasted 14 years. Initially there were 22 spans, but they were destroyed due to frequent floods, so the bridge had to be reconstructed, reducing the number of spans. Now there are only four of them.

According to legend, the construction of the bridge began after the proposal of the young shepherd Benedict. At first, the townspeople were very critical of him, but after they saw that the boy was being helped by angels, they supported this idea.

A number of wealthy citizens of the city created the “Bridge Brotherhood”, which financed the construction. In gratitude, the shepherd Benedict was buried in a small chapel right on the bridge. Over time, fearing another destruction of the structure, his remains were moved to another place on the mainland.

After dinner in one of the cozy restaurants in the old city, I spent the entire evening listening to a brass band playing popular tunes in the square. His performance was reminiscent of the annual Theater Festival in one of the courtyards of the Papal Palace.