Tourist Attractions in Avignon, France

The scenic beauty of this city of Popes exudes magnetism and charm that is sure to get you enthralled. It is worth a visit and it is a good place to start a French sojourn. Avignon is home to some of the world's most astonishing architecture, and is famous for the theater festival. In lovely Avignon, visitors can experience the former seat of the papacy in this endlessly-charming southern city. Home to the papacy for more than a century now Avignon is crowned with monumental Palace de Papes and one can find numerous tourist attractions in Avignon.

The city is enclosed in fortified medieval walls, with the River Rhône to the north and west of the town. The Palais des Papes and Pont St Bénezet are in the north, connected by the place du Palais, which itself runs into Avignon's central square (place de l'Horloge). Avignon also has a cluster of interesting little museums, ancient churches and several shopping streets and a mass of interesting restaurants and cafés that are key tourist destinations of Avignon.

1.     Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes)

One must see in Avignon, is The Palace of the Popes "LE PALAIS DES PAPES" which dominates the city and looms over Avignon. It was built nearly seven centuries ago (14th century), for the Pope, the curia and the Church government. The Palace of the Popes, residence of the Sovereign Pontiffs during the 14th century, is the biggest Gothic palace in the world. The visit shows 25 rooms: courtyard, cloister, reception halls, chapels and private papal apartments. If you want to experience grandeur at its very best then this palace fortress is certainly the place to visit. It is certainly fascinating - and makes Avignon well worth the stop off if you are on your way to a French vacation.

2.     Pont D'Avignon / Pont Saint Bénezet

One more majestic sight of Avignon is Saint Benezseth simply known as Pont D' Avignon- a bridge through Rhone. The legend has it that it was constructed in 1177-1188 by shepherd Benedict. It is one of Avignon's most photographed sights.

3.     Musée du Petit Palais (Little Palace Museum)

It is located on the northern end of place du Palais. If ancient artifacts, sculpture and paintings by great artistes amuse you then this is the right place to be in Avignon. The Little Palace Museum houses an impressive collection of frescoes, sculptures and Italian religious paintings from the 13th to 16th centuries, including works by Botticelli, Carpaccio and Giovanni di Paolo.

4.     Rocher des Doms

It is a fine rocky spur that rises to the north of the Papal palace and falls steeply in to the Rhone River offering a panoramic view of the Famous Pont de Benezet and Villeneuve-lès-Avignon and the Alpilles.

Avignon has a cluster of museums that exhibits a large collection of ancient artifacts and frescos like Musée Louis Vouland (Louis Vouland Museum) and Musée d'Art Contemporain (Contemporary Art Museum) and Musee Calvet (Calvet Museum). 

These are the major key attractions in Avignon and if you wish to explore the city then do make a visit to these places .Without a visit to these places your journey to Avignon is incomplete. Planning a trip to Avignon, you have to think of a good place for accommodation. There are many options for accommodation in Avignon. There are either cheap or luxurious hotels in Avignon and the quality of the service in all of them is excellent. To guarantee your booking for the chosen hotel in Avignon, it is advisable to make an online reservation in advance. So if you have the chance to travel to Avignon, you don’t have to miss it out!