Avignon

For nearly a century (1309-1403), Avignon was the seat of the papacy, and the Palais des Papes remains one of the largest and most important medieval Gothic buildings in Europe. Its vast, austere interior — the frescoed papal chambers, the cavernous Grand Audience Hall, the fortified towers — conveys the immense power the Church wielded from this Provencal outpost. Today, the city is equally famous for its theater festival and proximity to the Rhone Valley's greatest vineyards. The Festival d'Avignon, held each July, is the most prestigious performing arts festival in the French-speaking world. For three weeks, the city becomes an open-air stage — performances in the Cour d'Honneur of the Palais des Papes under the stars are among the most memorable cultural experiences in France. The Pont d'Avignon (Pont Saint-Benezet), immortalized in the nursery rhyme, extends four of its original twenty-two arches across the Rhone — a romantic ruin that is best appreciated from the Rocher des Doms garden above, where the view encompasses the bridge, the river, and the towers of Villeneuve-les-Avignon opposite. Within the ramparts, the old town is a delight: narrow medieval streets open onto intimate squares with cafe terraces, the morning market on Place Pie offers seasonal Provencal produce, and boutiques selling Provencal fabrics, lavender, and antiques line the Rue des Teinturiers along its canal. Wine lovers will find Avignon the perfect base for exploring the southern Rhone: Chateauneuf-du-Pape is just twenty minutes away, and the great estates — Chateau Rayas, Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe, Chateau de Beaucastel — offer some of the most profound red wines in France. Tavel and Lirac produce the Rhone's finest roses, while Gigondas and Vacqueyras offer powerful reds at exceptional value. Day trips to the Luberon villages (Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux), Les Baux-de-Provence, and the Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct all depart easily from Avignon. La Mirande, a private mansion converted into a boutique hotel just steps from the Palais des Papes, offers the most refined accommodation in the city.

Highlights