Rue des Teinturiers

The Rue des Teinturiers, or Street of the Dyers, is one of the most atmospheric streets in Avignon, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. It runs along the Sorgue canal, a branch of the Sorgue river, in the eastern part of the old town, and takes its name from the textile and dyeing workshops that once lined it. Several wooden waterwheels remain along the canal, a reminder of the mills that powered the industry, and plane trees shade the cobbled street and its stone bridges. Today the street holds a mix of cafés, restaurants, boutiques, artists' studios, and small theatres and galleries, giving it a relaxed bohemian feel. Visitors walk beside the water, stop at a terrace for a drink and photograph the wheels, especially the one near the Chapelle de l'Oratoire. The Chapelle des Pénitents Gris is nearby. The street is free and open day and night, although cafés generally open from about 10:00. A walk along its length takes about 45 minutes, longer with a stop. The area is busiest on summer evenings and during the Festival d'Avignon, when its theatres and terraces fill, while mornings are calm and best for photography. It sits about ten minutes on foot from Place de l'Horloge and is easily combined with the Collection Lambert and Les Halles. Some stretches have cobbles and slight slopes, so comfortable shoes are useful.