Avignon & Arles, france
Attractions Guide
Papal Palace of Avignon, France
Avignon's historical center is full of stunning UNESCO-listed medieval buildings. The entire historic center is surrounded by vast fortified medieval walls, which have been very well-preserved. The main attractions here are centered around the Place du Palais square, which is named for the incredible gothic Palais des Papes, or Papal Palace.
The fortified Palais des Papes was the home of several popes during the 14th century, and was also the seat of Western Christianity during this time. The palace is among the largest gothic structure built in the Middle Ages. Inside the palace you'll find grand historic interiors that you can explore amongst. Adjacent to the palace is the imposing 12th century Avignon Cathedral.
At the northern end of the Place du Palais square you can relax in the beautiful Rocher des Doms hilltop park. Here you can enjoy views overlooking the Rhone River and even explore along part of the medieval walls that surround the old town.
Pont d'Avignon Bridge
From the Rocher des Doms park you can walk down to the river where you'll find the medieval Pont d'Avignon bridge, which is partially destroyed and does not span the entire river. It's still possible to walk the two-thirds of the bridge that remains, and enjoy views looking back at the fortified old town.
Pont du Gard Aqueduct
Just outside of Avignon is one of Southern France's most iconic sights, the Pont du Gard. This famous ancient Roman aqueduct is multi-leveled and is among the best preserved in the world.
The Pont du Gard spans a lovely river canyon and is also a UNESCO world heritage site. Popular activities here include walking along the aqueduct and even renting a kayak to explore the river underneath the Pont du Gard.
Reaching the Pont du Gard by Train
Near the Gare d'Avignon Centre Train Station in Avignon you can a 35 minute bus ride to the Rond Point Pont du Gard Bus Station in the town of Vers-Pont-du-Gard. From the bus station it's about a 30 minute walk to reach the Pont du Gard.
From the Rond Pont du Gard Bus Station the return trip to Avignon takes the same amount of time. If heading to Nimes, you can take a 1 hour bus ride directly to the city center from the same bus station. If heading to Arles or Orange from the Pont Du Gard, you'll need to take the bus back to Avignon before transferring to the train.
Reaching the Pont du Gard by Car
From Avignon you can drive about 30 minutes west to the town of Vers-Pont-du-Gard, which is home to this ancient marvel.
Main Sights in Arles, France
Approximately 20 minutes south of Avignon by train or car is Arles, a beautiful city in Provence which inspired many of the works of Vincent Van Gogh. Arles hosts two UNESCO listed ancient Roman amphitheaters, including the famous Arles Amphitheater (which is more similar to a colosseum or arena) and the smaller Theater Antique (which is more of a traditional amphitheater). The larger Arles Amphitheater has been so well-preserved that it is still used to hold event to this day.
Nearby the ancient Roman theaters you can admire the striking Romanesque 12th century Saint Trophime Church. The church sits on the beautiful Place de la Republique square, which hosts the towering 4th century Arles Obelisk at its center.
Museums in Arles, France
One of Arles's most popular museums is the Fondation Vincent van Gogh Arles. This museum contains a small collection of paintings by Van Gogh and Picasso, along with other artists.
Arles also hosts a fantastic archaeology museum, the Arles Museum of Antiquity. This museum mainly houses ancient Roman artifacts such as mosaics and sculptures found in the local region, as well as an impressive ancient Roman boat.
Orange, France
North of Avignon in the city of Orange you'll find another incredible UNESCO site, the Theatre Antique d'Orange. This ancient Roman theater is one of the best preserved in the world, and still hosts events to this day. In most Roman theaters only the seating has been preserved, however in this one the entire theater wall still stand and it is quite stunning.
Transportation to the Orange Theatre Antique
You can reach the Theatre Antique from Avignon with a short train ride and walk in approximately 40 minutes, starting from the Gare d'Avignon Centre train station.
Travelling by car the Orange Theatre is approximately 30 minutes north of Avignon.
Google Maps Attraction Lists
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