Avignon walking tour & city guide

The Palace of the Popes

The Palais des Papes dominates the old town like a fortress. Built in just a few decades, it served as the papal residence from 1309 to 1377, and its vast halls, chapels and private rooms, some with original frescoes, can be explored with interactive tablets. From its towers, the view sweeps over the city's rooftops and the Rhône.

Beside it, the Rocher des Doms is a hilltop garden with ponds, peacocks and panoramic views over the river and the countryside.

The bridge and the walls

The Pont Saint-Bénézet, better known as the Pont d'Avignon from the famous children's song, once crossed the whole Rhône. Floods destroyed most of it over the centuries, and only four of its original arches remain, ending abruptly in the middle of the river.

Avignon is still surrounded by almost complete medieval ramparts. Inside, the Place de l'Horloge, with its cafés and carousel, and the narrow Rue des Teinturiers, with old waterwheels along a canal, are lovely places to wander.

Festival and Provence

Every July, the Festival d'Avignon turns the city into one of the world's greatest theater festivals, with performances in the palace courtyard and hundreds of shows across town. Avignon is an ideal base for exploring Provence: the Pont du Gard, the wine village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the lavender fields of the Luberon are all nearby.