10 Best Things to Do in Avignon

Avignon is a city that, for decades, was under papal control until it officially became part of France. Therefore, during your visit you will find a great historical and religious legacy, reflected in its monuments and architectural remains.

Among the best things to do in Avignon, I recommend visiting the Papal Palace, the Calvet Museum and the Petit Palais; walk the streets of the old town; contemplate the monumental wall or stroll through the Barthelasse Island and the Gardens des Doms, among other activities.

Buying tickets to the Papal Palace in Avignon is a must. You will get to know an important part of the history of the city and the splendor it had during the Middle Ages. Upon arrival, you will be amazed by its monumental size, which, according to experts, extends over 15,000 square meters. In addition, you will be able to contemplate the predominant architectural details in the columns, ceilings, arches and doors. All of them, representative of the Gothic style.

During the tour you will visit 25 rooms open to the public. Such is the case of the rooms occupied by the nine Popes throughout the 14th century. There, you will see frescoes and tapestries by Italian artists such as Matteo Giovannetti and Simone Martini.

You will also access the Grand Audience, the Cloister of Pope Benedict XII, the banquet hall, the Chapel of St. Martial, etc. And you will enjoy the privileged views of the gardens and the city from the terraces. You will also be able to enter the bookshop and buy some souvenirs of this experience.

Information of interest

• Price: If you book the ticket for the Papal Palace of Avignon in Hellotickets you can buy it at a price of 17 € per person.
• Opening hours: in winter, from 9 am to 6 pm and in summer, from 9 am to 8 pm.
• Address: Place du Palais des Papes 84000 Avignon.

Among the best tours in Avignon is the walking tour through the streets of the city. This is an experience that you can do on your own or in the company of a guide. You will learn about the history and culture of the place, while discovering its architectural and natural charm.

Among the main destinations where you will walk during this activity are the following:

• The exterior of the Palace of the Popes, a monument representative of the Gothic-medieval style.
• The St. Bénezet Bridge over the Rhone River. This is a historic medieval ruin.
• The defensive walls of the city, considered by Unesco as a World Heritage Site since 1995.
• The exterior of the Cathedral Notre Dame des Doms, with its Romanesque style.
• The Rue des Teinturiers, which is lined with a series of stone houses. For example, the Maison du IV de Chiffre, a Gothic building from 1943. In addition, you will find several wheel mills used for dyeing silk between the fourteenth and nineteenth century.

My recommendation is to book a tour of Avignon with a guided visit to the Papal Palace, so you will know in depth the historic center next to the monument par excellence of the town with a professional guide.

Useful information

• Price: this tour has an approximate price of 71 € per person.
• Duration: the guided activity lasts three hours.

One of my favorite plans in Avignon is to book a wine tour in Catheauneuf du Pape, a Provençal village that amazes everyone who visits it and is popularly known for its wine tradition and for the historical presence of the Popes.

In this wine tour, lasting about 4 hours and guided by an expert guide, you will have the opportunity to visit two traditional wineries where you will taste the main wines and learn all the details about the different varieties and the production of local wine.

In addition, you will visit the ruins of the castle from where you will have a spectacular view of the Rhone valley to capture some of the best snapshots of your trip.

Useful information

• Price: this tour has an approximate price of 96 € per person.
• Duration: the guided activity lasts four hours.

During your stay of 2 days or more in Avignon, you will be able to visit the imposing ramparts that surround the city, built during the 14th century. Also, if you book tickets for the Pont d'Avignon, you will see this and other Roman remains of historical importance as you pass by.

The walls of Avignon are part of a circular route usually included in the guided tours of the Roman sites of Avignon. However, you can walk this route on your own, starting at the Pont d'Avignon.

Throughout the walk of a little more than 4.3 kilometers, you will observe these walls of 3 meters wide and 8 meters high, preserved over the centuries. You will also find a total of 3 semicircular towers, up to 36 square towers and some gates from the 14th century. You will also find excavations and vestiges of Roman constructions. Such is the case of the emblematic Clock Square, formerly known as the Roman forum.

Visiting the Jardins des Doms is a good option for you to relax and breathe fresh air during your stay in Avignon. You will disconnect from the bustling historic center and get in touch with nature while contemplating a fabulous panoramic view of the city.

Throughout your tour you will discover the history of this natural space officially converted into a garden during the nineteenth century. You will be surrounded by century-old trees, hills and quiet walking paths. You will also find a pond with a few ducks and swans.

As you walk through the park, you will find a number of statues. Such is the case of the Vénus aux Hirondelles by Félix Chapentier, illustrious characters such as Félix Gras and Jean Althen, among others. In addition, there is the children's area with swings, slides and other attractions for the enjoyment of the little ones of the house. In fact, if after this visit you want to continue your escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, you can book an excursion in Provence from Avignon.

Useful information

• Price: admission to these gardens is free.
• Hours: every day of the year from 7:30 am to 8 pm.
• Address: 2 Mont des Moulins, 84000 Avignon.

Avignon is a city with a wealth of history and art, which is evident in the rooms of the Calvet Museum, which contains from archaeological pieces to paintings representative of classicism, romanticism, realism and impressionism, sculptures, a series of artifacts and art objects.

Among the art exhibits you can see in the museum you will enjoy the Vernet Gallery, dedicated to the artists of the city from the Renaissance to the Revolution. The Victor Martin room exhibits paintings and sculptures from the late 19th and 20th centuries. Meanwhile, in the Saint Priest room you will see local sculptures of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. You will also find other rooms of great importance such as:

• Asian art room: with statuettes, vases and artifacts belonging to China, Japan, India, among others. For example, the Buddha head called the Chief of Avalokitesvara (year 1200).
• Islamic art room: handmade ceramics such as the plate with floral decoration from around 1570-1580.
• Egyptian art room: with stelae, coffins and statues such as the funerary sculpture of the early XXII dynasty or 945-715 BC.

Certainly, this is a visit that can not miss in your itinerary along with other activities such as the Van Gogh tour in Provence.

Information of interest

• Price: the visit to appreciate the permanent exhibitions of the museum is free.
• Hours: from November to February, from 10 am to 1 pm and from 2 pm to 5 pm. From March to May and during the month of October, from 10 am to 1 pm and from 2 pm to 6 pm. From June to September, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
• Address: 65 Rue Joseph Vernet, 84000 Avignon.

This is another excursion that will allow you to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy one of the main natural lungs of the region. Visiting Barthelasse Island, about a 10-minute drive from the historic center, is an activity you can't miss.

Just cross the Édouard Daladier Bridge to reach this picturesque river island. There, you will find several recreational and relaxation areas that will allow you to spend a different day without having to leave Avignon. For example, you will find green paths with privileged panoramic views of the Avignon Bridge, the ramparts and the Papal Palace. In addition, if you walk along the shores of the island, you will see some animal species such as herons, hedgehogs, ducks, badgers, sparrow hawks, among others.

You will also find a skate park, camping areas and a soccer field. And on the island you can also do some shopping in the souvenir stores and local products. In fact, if you wish, you can visit the Manguin distillery for some tastings.

If you are interested in medieval and Renaissance art, you will have to visit the Petit Palais. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a museum in the city of Avignon where you will find important collections of sculptures and paintings by great French and Italian masters.

Among the exhibits you can enjoy are Italian paintings, Avignon sculptures (Romanesque and Gothic) and paintings from the Avignon school. In total, you will find 600 sculptures and an average of 390 paintings. For example, you will see The Virgin and Child by Sandro Boticelli or the Crucifix by Berlinghieri.

Information of interest

• Price: admission to this palace-museum is free.
• Hours: from Wednesday to Monday, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
• Address: Palais des archevêques, Pl. du Palais, 84000 Avignon.

The Avignon Cathedral or Notre-Dame-des-Doms is another must-see destination during your visit. It is a religious enclosure of the twelfth century, which retains its Gothic and Romanesque style, along with a number of jewels of art and architecture.

From your arrival you will be amazed with the golden Virgin, which rises on the west tower of the building (now the bell tower). It is a statue of approximately 6 meters high, made of lead. Also, in the front you will see a sculpture of St. John and the Virgin Mary, accompanied by a large crucifix. Once inside the Cathedral you will find several samples of art. For example:

• The entrance portico with an ancient Roman art style.
• The mausoleum built in honor of Pope John XXII, which highlights a Gothic carving of the fourteenth century.
• The Chapel of Flowers, with the adoration of the shepherds by Eugène Dévéria, the tombs of Pope Benedict XII and Archbishop Domenico De Marine.

You will also contemplate the main nave, the baroque tribunes and the choir carved in wood. You will see furniture such as the Episcopal chair in white marble of the twelfth century, an organ from the seventeenth century, the altarpiece of the Crucifix, painted in 1520 by Antoine Rozen, among other relics.

Information of interest

• Price: admission to the Avignon Cathedral is free.
• Hours: Monday to Saturday, 6:30 am to 12 noon and 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm; Sunday, 9 am to 12 noon and 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm.
• Address: Pl. du Palais, 84000 Avignon.

During your stay of at least 3 days in Avignon, you cannot miss the Saint Didier Church, as it is a monument more than 600 years old that houses great relics. Come to this place and contemplate one of the best examples of Gothic architecture in the city.

• Church façade: This area of the church - built in the 11th century - has undergone several transformations, both in the 12th century and in the 16th century. Currently, you will see most of the façade made of assembled stones and slate. The western façade features a triple stone arch framed by white and red columns. The latter are crowned by capitals (architectural elements) inspired by anthropomorphic and vegetal motifs.
• Inside the church: You will find a bas-relief of the Ascent to Calvary, elaborated by Francesco Laurana. This work, valued as one of the first representations of the Renaissance style in France, used to accompany the main altar, but is now located right in the chapel of the collegiata. In addition, you will have the opportunity to access the north chapel and see the murals and paintings preserved since the end of the 15th century. You will also find some outstanding works such as the famous Charge of the Cross.

Useful information

• Price: admission to this religious monument in Avignon is free.
• Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 8 am to 5 pm. The church is closed on Sundays. However, the opening hours may change according to the festivities of Avignon, so you should check before your trip on the website of the diocese of Avignon.
• Address: 10 Pl. Saint-Didier, 84000 Avignon.