Rocher des Doms

The Rocher des Doms is a hilltop public garden rising behind the cathedral and the Palais des Papes, reached by the Montée du Rocher des Doms in Avignon, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. The limestone outcrop was the earliest settled part of the city and now holds a landscaped park laid out in the 19th century, with winding paths, pines, cypresses, lawns, a small pond with ducks and swans, a children's play area and a café-restaurant. Visitors climb through shaded terraces to a series of viewpoints facing west and north over the Rhône. From the belvedere, the Pont Saint-Bénézet, Île de la Barthelasse, Villeneuve-lès-Avignon with its Fort Saint-André and, on clear days, Mont Ventoux are visible. A viewing orientation table helps identify the landmarks. The garden is also one of the best places to photograph the Pont d'Avignon at sunset, when the stone turns gold. A walk through the garden usually takes 45 minutes to an hour, longer with a picnic or café stop. The park is quietest in the early morning and tends to be busiest on warm evenings, when locals and visitors gather for the sunset. In summer the shade of the trees is welcome, and in winter the garden is still pleasant on sunny days, though the mistral can be strong on the exposed terraces. Because it sits directly beside the papal palace and the cathedral, the garden combines naturally with a visit to both, offering a free green break between museum visits.