Top 10 Travel Guide for Avignon, France

Welcome to Avignon, a historic city in the heart of Provence in the South of France. Form a home of the Pope's and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Let's take a look. Before we get into the top 10, here is a very brief intro about the city. The history of the city stretches back into antiquity, but one time a Greek trading post it then came under control of the Roman Empire. During the Middle Ages the city changed hands many times before eventually becoming the seat of the Pate Sea between 1309 to 1377. Seven popes and two anti-popes resided in the city during these times and it is this legacy that has left its mark on Avignon with a sprawling palace of the popes. People controlled persisted until the French revolution. In modern times Avignon has a population of about 90,000 people. In the city rising to over 300,000 in the metropolitan area.

Avignon's unique history makes it a major tourist destination with about 4 million visitors annually. So let's take a look at the top 10 things to see. The most important site in Avignon is the Palace of the Popes. This huge medieval building was constructed in the 14th century and became one of the most important buildings in Europe when Pope Clement V moved the papal court to Avignon from Rome. Seven popes and two anti-popes resided in the palace. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. In total there are more than 20 rooms open to the public. Although most of the original furnishings have long disappeared the interior is still worth visiting to see the huge scale of the rooms. There are too many to talk about so here are some highlights. Next to the palace is the Cathedral. This mostly Romanesque building was constructed in the 12th century, although like most medieval cathedrals were continued for centuries afterwards.

The original tower collapsed and was rebuilt in 1425 and is surrounded by a gilded statue. The interior is small compared to many of the great medieval cathedrals of France however it's dimension still give it a lofty feeling. Inside there are many notable artifacts including the tomb of a Pope as well as paintings and statues to make sure you spend some time having a good look around. The Cathedral sits next to a large one-eight park known as the Rocher de Don. This present garden has a cafe lake and many statues to admire. However the main reason to leg it up here is to wander around the various paths and plasas to take in the extensive panoramic views. From here you can look over the city and the amazing countryside of Provence. Avignon's most recognizable landmark is a pondsand bineuse, also known as a pondiavignon.

This medieval bridge was built in the 13th century to replace an older wooden bridge. It originally had 22 stone arches with it measures around 900 meters. It provided an essential crossing of the Roan River. It eventually fell into disrepair and the section swept away by a flood 1669. The deterioration continued and now and four of the arches remain intact. Despite this the remaining structure is incredibly impressive and can be visited allowing nice views along the river. There is even a small chapel built into the bridge. Our next location is across the river. You can reach the ill-de-peat by crossing the modern Pond de la Ladaille, which is a bridge. On the far side it might not be obvious that you are actually stood on a large island between two branches of the river. The main reason to cross over is to take in these amazing views of Avignon.

It's an especially good place to get great shots of the bridge. Heading back across to the city you will notice the extensive walls, which are some of the best preserved medieval fortifications in the world, and still encircle the entire historic core of the city. There are 39 impressive towers and multiple gates in and out, although it's not possible to walk on the walls you can walk almost the entire link with them both inside and outside of the old town. Inside the walls you will find the old town of Avignon, the tight street to packed with interesting historic buildings, plasas and alleys. You will find it a joy to wander around and get lost in. Here are some highlights. Avignon's famous food hall is unmissable, especially as it appears to have a garden growing on the side of it. It's strange, but you know it's cool.

This modern building is open most days and inside you will find plenty of really tasty food. We bought pastries and a keepswit to a yummy. Avignon has many notable churches, but perhaps the most interesting is the Visila Piro Saint-Pierre. The current building was constructed between 1358 and 1524 in a Gothic style. The interior is small and peaceful and is a nice place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Inside you will find many fascinating paintings, frescoes and ornaments. Our final destination is the Anglandon Museum. Located in a former hotel, this small gallery contains the collection of a wealthy fashion designer Jacques Duce. The museum was established in 1996. Although some more it contains a great collection of artworks, a famous artist such as Picasso, Descartes and Manet.

Perhaps the most famous painting is the Pink Flowers by Moc D'Iliani. The collection is housed in a historic building and also contains furniture sculptures and many other interesting items. Nearby is a cow that museum, which contains an even bigger collection of art and artifacts. Unfortunately it was closed when I visited but I don't think a guy to Avignon would be complete without at least mentioning it. That's it for my top 10 places to visit in Avignon. Many thanks if you have made it this far. Let me know in the comments below if you disagreed with my 10 picks. I hope you have a great day. Cheerio!