Discover a grand palace, an iconic bridge and all the scents and sounds of this charismatic city…
Capital of the stunning Vaucluse and in the heart of the Côtes du Rhône in Provence, Avignon is a city of cobbled streets, Medieval houses and grand Renaissance architecture that sits under the watchful eye of Mont Ventoux. With a city that has such a complex and fascinating history, one of the best ways to explore is with a guided walking tour. The idreamprovence bespoke, small group tours will guide you through the city streets, take you to some of the most stunning and historic landmarks and help you discover the very heart and soul of the city.
Avignon has a history that dates back thousands of years and includes Gauls, Romans, religious intrigue, dancing, emperors, hot air balloons and love. Surrounded by Medieval ramparts, the city is romantic, evocative and bursting with local culture, artisans and produce. As the heart of a region that oozes with vineyards, lavender, the distinctive garrigue landscape and Roman architecture, a day spent in Avignon is a day spent indulging the senses with its bright colours and lively markets, as you follow in the footsteps of the many people of its past.
Tour Avignon with English speaking, local guides
Your visit may include the renowned market of Avignon, the pretty town of Villeneuve-sur-Avignon, Chateauneuf du Pape, famous for its wines and more. Your English-speaking tour guides are a local couple one of whom is from the UK. As a small group tour of no more than seven, your tour can be tailored so that you can explore the places that really interest you, but you’ll get all the benefits of an insider’s experience of this charismatic city.
The Pope’s Palace
Any tour of Avignon has to include the Palais des Papes, a magnificent 14th century Gothic palace and the largest Gothic palace in Europe. It’s huge and stands proud and majestic to the north of the city as a marker of Avignon’s extraordinary past.
Step through its vast doors and Papal intrigue and the echo of Medieval footsteps envelop you. In 1305, a French pope moved the papacy to Avignon. Seven successive popes subsequently lived here between 1309 and 1377. The palace was built at an exceptional time in both French and Papal history and the interior was beautifully decorated with frescos, tapestries, paintings and sculptures.
As part of your tour you can visit the Papal Chamber, the grand chapel with its vast vaulted ceiling and the Stag Room and see some of the murals painted by Italian artist Matteo Giovannetti. With such a complex story to tell, your tour guides will explain the incredible story of the palace as you soak up the Medieval atmosphere.
Avignon Cathedral
Close to the palace is a Romanesque cathedral which dates from the 12th century and has a gold statue of the Virgin Lady on the top of its tower. Despite having almost become derelict during the French revolution, is it now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and known for its exceptional architecture and historical importance. Filled with incredible sculptures, and with an ornate ceiling and a wealth of stunning detail, your tour guides will explain the cathedral’s role in the city’s intriguing story.
The Rocher des Doms
Just north of the Palais des Papes is the Rocher des Doms, a rocky terrace at the top of the city that overlooks the Rhône. It’s breathtaking and this is the place to go to see the city from above and get an understanding of the surrounding landscape. There is a garden, a pond and views of Mont Ventoux and its part of the city ramparts. After the climb up, it’s a wonderful place to sit in the cool of the trees and soak up the moment as your tour guides point out the important landmarks while you take a well-earned rest.
Pont d’Avignon
One of the landmarks you can see from the Rocher des Doms is the famous Pont Saint-Bénézet also known as Pont d’Avignon. Built in the 12th century across the Rhône, it was a massive fete of engineering with 22 arches and for a while, it was one of the only places between Lyon and the Mediterranean where you could cross the river by foot. Unfortunately, the mighty Rhône had other ideas, and the bridge was destroyed and damaged so many times that repairs were eventually abandoned. Today, it’s a distinctive UNESCO World Heritage site, famous for dancing and the source of a well-known song.
Exploring the city
Apart from the city’s many landmarks, there is a wealth of local culture to explore in Avignon. At the centre of the city is the Place de l’Horloge (with a large square, 15th century belfry and clock) and dozens of cafés and restaurants spilling out into the square. From here, a myriad of little streets fan out in all directions with an impressive selection of Medieval houses and Renaissance mansions and facades.
It’s in amongst these streets you’ll get to the heart of Avignon life. There are museums, artisan chocolate makers, local pottery and santon makers (for which the region is famous), local lavender products, olive oil, beautiful fabrics made in the bright colours of Provence and regular markets. Exploring the streets is a very sensory experience and you may even find your visit coincides with one of the many festivals that fill the streets each year.
Find out more and book your tour here: idreamprovence
