🇫🇷France · Places to discover
What to see in Avignon?
15 places selected by the community - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.
Avignon is understood first through its ramparts: fourteen kilometres of medieval walls that still sharply divide the city from the suburbs. Inside, the Palais des Papes imposes a raw, almost austere architecture that reminds you this city was the centre of Western Christendom for nearly a century. The Rhône runs alongside all this with indifference, and it is precisely this contrast between historical power and quiet daily life that gives Avignon its particular character.
Spring and autumn offer the best conditions for visiting: summer brings the Festival and with it prices tripled and streets saturated. Two days suffice to explore the historic centre and cross the Pont Saint-Bénézet without hurrying. The TGV from Paris takes less than three hours, making it an easy stop. Resist limiting your stay to the walled centre: the Villeneuve-lès-Avignon neighbourhood, across the Rhône, is routinely overlooked and worth the detour.
Landmarks & heritage
3 places
1Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0Landmark
Pont Saint-Bénézet
The famous Avignon bridge, partially preserved since the 12th century, extending over the Rhône with four remaining arches. The view from the bridge towards the Palais des Papes is among the city's most stunning.
2Wikimedia CommonsLandmark
Avignon Ramparts
A medieval fortification from the 14th century, virtually intact over 4.3 km and UNESCO-listed. Walking along the outer ramparts at sunset offers magical Provençal light upon the towers.
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Landmark
Landmark
Place de l'Horloge
The beating heart of the papal city, featuring a neo-Gothic town hall and a 14th-century clock tower. The terraces come alive in the evening, but visit early morning to appreciate the architecture without the crowds.
Museums
2 places
4Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0Museum
Musée Calvet
Fine art museum housed in an 18th-century townhouse, featuring collections spanning from Antiquity to the 19th century. Often quiet, it allows for peaceful contemplation of major works in a sumptuous setting.
5Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Museum
Petit Palais Museum
A former episcopal palace housing an exceptional collection of medieval and Renaissance Italian paintings, including a Botticelli. Despite its richness, it remains undervisited and is preferred by cultivated locals.
Religious sites
2 places
6Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Religious site
Cathedral of Notre-Dame des Doms
A 12th-century Romanesque cathedral nestled against the Rocher des Doms, topped with a gilded Virgin visible from afar. Austere interior yet laden with history, housing the tomb of Pope John XXIII.
7Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Religious site
Saint-Didier Church
A Provençal Gothic church from the 14th century housing a bas-relief by Francesco Laurana called 'Notre-Dame du Spasme', a Renaissance sculpture masterpiece. Often overlooked by tourists, it is an artistic gem.
Castles & fortresses
1 place
8Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Castle
Palais des Papes
The world's largest medieval Gothic palace, the former residence of the popes in the 14th century. Essential for understanding Avignon's history, with stunning frescoes and monumental halls.
Viewpoints
2 places
9Wikimedia CommonsViewpoint
Rocher des Doms
A suspended garden atop the rocky outcrop overlooking the Rhône, offering incomparable panoramic views of the river, Pont Saint-Bénézet and the Alpilles. A verdant haven in the historic heart, frequented by local residents.
10WikipediaViewpoint
Rhône Banks – Promenade de l'Oulle
Pedestrian and cycling promenade along the Rhône at the foot of the ramparts on the western side, with views over Villeneuve-lès-Avignon and the Philippe-le-Bel Tower. Spectacular sunset over the river in the late afternoon.
Activities
2 places
11Wikimedia CommonsActivity
Collection Lambert
A contemporary art museum housed in two 18th-century town mansions, with an internationally renowned collection featuring Cy Twombly and Jean-Michel Basquiat. A stimulating modern counterpoint to the medieval city.
12Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Activity
Marché des Halles d'Avignon
Covered market at the heart of the city, featuring a striking living wall on its facade and stalls from local producers. Saturday mornings are when Avignon residents gather for Luberon goat's cheese and seasonal fruits.
More to discover
3 places
13Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Place
Place des Corps Saints
Lively neighbourhood square with century-old plane trees, local cafés and a Thursday morning market. This is where Avignon residents gather away from the tourist terraces of Place de l'Horloge.
14Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Place
Rue des Teinturiers
Avignon's most picturesque street, running alongside the Sorgue with its water wheels still in place, art galleries and bohemian cafés. Paved and shaded by plane trees, it deserves a long leisurely stroll.
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Place
Place
La Balance Quarter
Former working-class neighbourhood at the foot of the Papal Palace, with its cobbled alleyways, colourful façades and artisans' workshops. Less touristy than the Place de l'Horloge, it retains the authentic soul of the old town.
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