Get to Know Historic Avignon, France

Avignon is a unique place in Europe because, for almost a century, it was the seat of the papacy.

For most of the 1300s, Avignon — instead of Rome — was the center of the Catholic church. The time period proved especially lucrative for the city because a large amount of the sites and monuments still present today were built during that period. The skyline is a mix of Gothic and Renaissance architecture, many of which are UNESCO sites. Nowadays, it is most well-known as the host of France’s largest arts festival, which it hosts yearly.

The Palais des Papes in Avignon

The city is home to the largest Gothic building in the world, the Palais des Papes, which was the seat of the Papacy during the city’s tenure as the center of the church.

The building is astonishingly massive, with large, cavernous halls and monasteries, and is surrounded by 3m thick walls.

Frescoes can be spotted in the chapels, and tours are widely available.

The building comes alive again during the Festival d’Avignon, the city’s art festival, when it is a venue for special shows and performances. Tours are available all year.

Pont du Gard, a Stunning Aqueduct

For some even older history, check out the Pont du Gard, one of the most impressive Roman ruins, and one of the most preserved. The Pont du Gard is a Roman aqueduct that was built to bring water to Nimes.

It is constructed in three tiers, each with unique arches, and is remarkably well preserved for its age, especially considering it was constructed in half a decade.

The section across the Gardon River is 50 meters tall and has been an impressive site for thousands of years. This section had a dual purpose as an important toll bridge, which is how it stayed so well maintained. The quality of its masonry not only kept it structurally sound, but was also a destination for French masons in training to study from.

It’s most easily accessed by car, however, buses are also available for transport.

Drive to Luberon for a Lovely Change of Scene

If you want to get a change of scenery for the day, take a trip out to the villages of Luberon.

Luberon is a hilly, historic region between Aix-en-Provence and Avignon, and it is dotted with quaint medieval villages spread across its hilltops. The villages are surrounded by fields of lavender and beautiful natural rock formations.

The most well-known (and picturesque) of these towns is Bonnieux. This hilltop town holds a market every Friday that sells fresh produce, goat cheese, and even fresh-made soap.

The town itself has a twisting spiral of streets, which is itself worth a wander, if only to grab a beer or enjoy a cup of coffee. The hilltop setting gives the town many wonderful views, and on incredibly clear days, the view is as far as Mont Ventoux.

The Luberon region has many towns, and all of them are well worth a visit. Gordes (pictured), at the base of the Vancluse Mountains, is a particularly wonderful town for both its nature and its buildings.

The town is great for walking around, and like Bonnieux, the sites stretch on for miles. The Borie village, an ancient village which was meticulously restored in the 1970s, is a particularly wonderful walking destination and a beautiful display of the peacefulness of pre-industrial living.