The fortified city of Avignon, situated
on the river Rhone, overwhelms the tourists with its age old charisma and
beauty. As one travels through any of the seven doors of the preserved walls
one discovers the enigmatic city of the Popes. The Palace of the Popes built
in the 14th century overlooks a lively square. Nearby are the museums the
Petit Palais and Palais du Roureand next to that stands the famous Pont
d'Avignon.
The striking features of the city are the Quiet streets, secluded
courtyards, secret gardens, cosy pavement cafés and fantastic
restaurants. The city presents the picture perfect destination for memorable
holidays and moments to be cherished for the entire life.
Fact File
Country : France
Population : 85,935
Languages : French
Climate : The climate is temperate, fairly hot in the summer and
relatively cold in the winter. Heavy precipitation is a dominant aspect of
the city's weather, and you can expect rain in Avignon year-round. The
temperature of the city varies between 12 deg C and 25 deg C all the round.
The city has a favourable climate throughout the year.
Official Currency : Euro; 1 Euro = 52.443 Indian Rupee = 1.2047 US $
= 0.678141 GBP(subject to change).
Location : Avignon is situated in the heart of the Vaucluse region
in the south of France.
Getting There
By
Air : Avignon Caumont Airport(AVN airport) is a primary airport on the
outskirts of Provence. It does not run direct flights from the US, as major
carriers such as Air France offer direct flights to Paris with connections
to other destinations throughout France and beyond.
AVN Airport also services inter-European flights from several carriers
servicing many worldwide destinations which is helpful if you are combining
a visit to France and continuing on with a full on European tour.
The AVN airport is 9 km away from the main city and people can reach the
city via roads only as no trains connect the airport to the main city.
By Trains : There are both intracity and intercity trains available.
Tourists can reach Avignon using a train from any of the intercity Railways.
There are two railway stations namely Avignon railway station and Avignon
railway station Tvg. city.
By Roads : The city has well defined roads which is added by an
excellent connections of the roads to the other cities in the country. There
is good system of local taxis available in the city.
Getting Around
By Road : Buses and taxis provide a very convenient means of moving
around the city.
Accommodation
There are very good accommodation facilities available in the city. Here is
a list of some of the hotels:
5 Star hotels in the city:
Hotel La Mirande
Hotel Avignon Grand
4 Star hotels in the city:
Ibis hotel Avignon Centre
Hotel Danieli
3 Star hotels in the city:
Hotel d’Europe
Major tourists attraction
The
city of Avignon has a beautiful collections of monuments, churches, palaces
and more to entertain the tourists. Mentioned below are some the most
visited places of tourist attractions:
La Fondation Angladon :Dubrujeaud museum -This is the home to the
impressive art collection of renowned Parisian haute coutour designer Jaques
Doucet. His collection includes the early works of many famed artists,
including Braque, Max Jacob, Marcel Duchamp, and Picasso.
Musée du Petit-Palais palace : It was once the Bishop's
palace, and the first two Avignon popes resided here. Many important art
works from the Italian schools of the 13th to 16th centuries are displayed
here. Works from Lombardy, Venice, Florence, and Siena are all housed here.
Roman and Gothic sculptures are also kept here.
Musée Louis-Vouland meseum : This is situated in a 19th
century mansion that opens onto a garden. Antiques and art objects from 17th
and the 18th are present here and among the items here are Chandeliers,
Aubusson and Gobelins tapestries, Sèvres porcelain, and Louis XV
inkpots with silver rats holding the lids.
Cathédrale Notre :Dame des Doms cathedral - This flamboyant
church was built in the 12 century. A gilded 19th century statue of the
Virgin Mary is at the top of the cathedral.
Popes' palace : The Popes' Palace, the residence of the Sovereign
Pontiffs during the 14th Century, is the biggest Gothic Palace in the world.
There are 25 rooms to visit in the Palace: ceremonial rooms, chapels,
cloister, the private papal apartments, with their priceless frescoes…
and new museum space - the Musee de l'Oeuvre - which displays the evolutions
in the building of the Popes' since the 14th century.
Saint Benezet Bridge 'The Bridge of Legend' : The construction of
the bridge started in the 12th Century, and parts of the bridge were
continually swept away by the raging waters of the Rhone river.
Reconstruction of the bridge was finally abandoned in the 17 Century. The
recommended visiting time is 30 minutes.
Wine Tasting In The Bouteillerie 'At the popes' palace' : Enjoy a
wine tasting with a professional wine specialist and savor some of the most
prestigious vintages of the Côte de Rhône wines. One receives a
free wine tasting cup with the words Palais des Papes inscribed - “a
memento of your experience”!
