Avignon

Avignon is the city of the popes in the 14th century, about 100 km north of Marseille in the Vaucluse department of Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France. Its main sights are the Palais des Papes on Place du Palais, the Pont Saint-Benezet (the Pont d'Avignon) and the Rocher des Doms gardens, all inside a complete circuit of ramparts. The quickest transport is the TGV from Marseille Saint-Charles to Avignon TGV, which takes about 35 to 40 minutes. The station is outside the city, so a connecting local train or shuttle bus to Avignon Centre is needed, bringing the door-to-door time to about 1 hour 15 minutes. The direct TER Zou to Avignon Centre via Arles and Miramas takes about 2 hours 15 minutes and is much slower. Driving takes about 1 hour 15 minutes via the A7, with paid parking outside the ramparts. Timetables should be checked on sncf-connect.com. A suggested day begins with an early train and a morning at the Palais des Papes, the best time to avoid crowds, followed by the Rocher des Doms gardens for views over the Rhone and the bridge. Lunch can be taken in the old town. The afternoon suits the Pont Saint-Benezet and a walk along the ramparts and through the lanes, then a return before evening. The old town inside the ramparts is flat, and the Palais has stairs and lifts. The best seasons are April to June and September to October. July is festival season, when the city is crowded and accommodation is scarce, so day visitors should expect queues. Summer afternoons are hot, which makes the shaded gardens useful. Visitors who wish to enter the Palais or the bridge should check ticket prices and hours with the official sources, as combined tickets are sometimes offered. The overall exertion is easy, with train travel and flat walking.