Postcard perfect Avignon is a walled city hugging the banks of the Rhône River in the southwest corner of France, about halfway between Spain and Italy. The city’s outline of churches hint of its time as the base of the Papacy and the famous bridge, the Pont D’Avignon, juts out into the river, broken but not beaten – and certainly not quite ready to give up its UNESCO status.
Historically, Avignon is best known for being the former residence of seven popes before the Holy See was established in Rome. Evidence of their tenure can be found all through the city, most notably at the aptly named Palace of the Popes, where the popes lived and carried out their duties behind heavily fortified walls. Across the square is Carnavalet Museum, where a good collection of paintings from the Avignon school are displayed.
Anyone taking pleasure in exploring the narrow and snaking alleys of medieval towns will not be disappointed here. Avignon is big enough to warrant a whole day of wandering around and stumbling upon the many historical sights to be found such as Gothic churches, the Hôtel De Ville and the old papal mint, the Hôtel des Monnaies.
Fans of French cuisine can rest easy with a large selection of pubs, bars and restaurants to be found all through the city.
Highlights
Palace of the Popes: constructed on a riverside outcrop in the north of the town, popes ruled from here during troublesome times in Rome and have left an impressive monument to their time here.
Carnavalet Museum: to get an idea of what life was like during the papal period, check out the paintings in this museum including a collection of Italian works.
Notre Dame des Doms: the squat, Romanesque cathedral houses enough artwork to be considered a museum, along with the amazingly carved mausoleum of Pope John XXII.
Pont d’Avignon: the bridge that inspired the famous children’s song of the same name is in ruins but remains the most potent landmark in the city.