What to see in Avignon ?

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.