Tourist Information
HISTORY - THE MIDDLE-AGES - ARCHITECTURE - THEATRE
In short
- Avignon, the City of the Popes, has a long religious history. The town was at its climax during the 14th century, when it was the headquarters of the papacy, and many historical monuments were erected at that time, like the very famous Papal Palace ("Palais des Papes"), which was built according to a gothic-like architecture.
- You must remember that among its various medieval monuments, Avignon is one of the few French cities of which ramparts still stand today; they date back to the 14th century and they circle the city over more than 2.5 miles, which is impressive!
- The Pont d'Avignon ("Avignon's bridge"), which has been famous since the related song, is a must see. Its real name is actually "Pont Saint-Bénézet".
- Avignon also has a long and interesting history when it comes to theater: the first religious shows, the first performance halls, the city's opera-theater... And of course, the first Avignon Festival, that was organized in 1947 by Jean Vilar. Most of the time, it takes place in July.
- But the town cultural life doesn't stop there: the Hivernales d'Avignon, for instance, celebrates contemporary dance. Every winter, as Christmas approaches, the Provençal Nativity scene is settled in a church, expanding over more than 54 square meters and there are 600 Christmas crib figures (and even more) displayed. It is worth visiting!
Climate
Avignon has a Mediterranean climate, with dry and warm summers, and dry and mild winters. It's rainier during autumn and spring. Average temperatures are 6°C in January and 24°C in July. The mistral blows in Avignon; you might want to be careful! The best moment to visit Avignon is the very beginning or the very end of summer, so as to enjoy the sun and the heat as much as possible while avoiding tourists at the same time, except if you want to go to the festival.
Our best tips
- Admire the view over the Palais des Papes at sunset; it's stunning!
- Visit the medieval town centre so that you enjoy Avignon as much as possible!
Average prices for hotels
- Low budget: 59€ per night in high season, and 44€ in low season.
- Mid-range: 90€ per night in high season, and 67€ in low season.
- Luxury:149€ per night in high season, and 94€ in low season.
Recommended areas for your hotel
- Intramural zones of Avignon, so that you'll be in the heart of the city.
- The railway station quarter, to be closer to the town's means of transportation.
Need more information about this place?
We wrote un mini guide for our readers that we hope is coming as handy as possible (also available in PDF format to download, useful while traveling without an internet connexion) :
Avignon : Handy Mini Travel Guide
