Travel to Avignon

Travel to Avignon

Avignon is one of those places which visitors will never want to leave. Its history dates back to the Roman era in the 5th century AD and in the townthere are museumsexhibiting artefacts from that time onwards. It is one of those rare towns that have been wonderfully preserved with its fortified walls, museums, art galleries and historical buildings. It also has many delightful cafes and bars to relax and while away the hours.

Transportation to Avignon

Avignon is on the Paris-Lyon-Nice-Italy train line and the Montpellier-Narbonne-Perpignan-Spain line. Several train companies from many European cities have services that connect to these lines making it relatively easy to reach Avignon by train. The train journey from Paris takes about 3 hours and from Marseille it is about 30 minutes. There are daily high speed trains commuting between Roissy, the airport at Paris, Lyon, Geneva and London. Avignon has a domestic airport that is located about 8 kilometers away from the city. The only way to get to the city from the domestic airport would be by taxi as there are no buses commuting this route. The closest international airport is at Marseilles, about 30 kilometers from Avignon.

It is possible to drive or take a bus from most European cities to Avignon as it is situated on a traffic crossroad axis going in all directions. Avignon is connected by highway to Lyon, Paris, Germany, Italy and Spain as well as several major cities in France. The motorways are excellent and clearly signposted but the drive could be a long one depending on the point of departure. Paris is about 700 kilometers from Avignon.

What to see

There are many interesting museums to visit in Avignon including the Musee di Petit Palais that used to be the residence of the popes of Avignon. The museum exhibits art collections from Venice, Lombardy, Siena and other areas dating back to the 13th century. The Musee Louis Vouland has a lovely setting and it exhibits antiques from the 17th century, including tea sets, chandeliers and tapestries. Art lovers will thoroughly enjoy a trip to the La Fondation Angladon-Dubrujeaud which houses a magnificent collection of paintingsby Picasso, Marcel, Duchamp and many other world renowned artists. Two other interesting museums to visit are the Musee Lapidaire that displays Gallo Roman sculptures and depicts the history of the different civilizations that have occupied the region.Also,the Musee Calvet which has a magnificent collect of antique silver. The Cathedral Notre-Dame des Doms is an imposing structure that dates back to the 12th century. The cathedral has several tombs of the apostate popes but perhaps the main feature of the cathedral would be its 19th century statue of the Virgin Mary which is quite exquisite. The Palais des Papes stand on a hill overlooking Avignon and is hard to miss, as it dominates the area. This incredible palace dates back to 1309 and was used by the schismatic group of cardinals. Within its grounds are the St Hean and St Martial chapels.

Day trips

A day trip to Arles is well worth the effort as this is the city of art and history. Many of its buildings have been classified as World Heritage of Humanity, as they date back to the 1st century. Some places of interest to visit at Arles would be the Roman arenas, the St Trophine Cathedral which has a fantastic Romanesque gate and the Place de la Republique.

Activities and leisure

Roller skating seems to be the most popular sporting activity in Avignon. In fact there are monthly skate trips that begin from the post office and take you around town on the last Friday of each month. Golfing is another popular activity and very convenient as membership is not required. There are several beautifully landscaped courses around the region from which to choose.Other activities include horse or donkey riding, sailing, hiking, cycling or mountain biking.

Shopping, wining and dining are to be savoured at Avignon. The Christian Etienne is really the best restaurant here and is situated in a 10th century old stone house. The restaurant itself drawsnumerous tourists because here is where Anne de Bretagne married the French king in 1491. Another pleasant place to dine would be the Le Prieure. This hotel is housed in what was once the residence of a cardinal in 1322. Many of the shopping areas in Avignon have been designated pedestrian only. The main shopping areas are Joseph Vernet and St Agricol streets. There are also shops at the Republic Avenue and the le Balance area.

Safety issues

Avignon is fairly safe but it is always recommended that visitors be careful with their belongings as there have been cases of pick-pocketing and snatch thieving. Having travel insurance would surely provide the traveller with a sense of security and would come in very useful should anything go wrong.