Avignon
Situated on the River Rhone, the historic holiday destination of
Avignon is famed for being the Vatican of the 14th century. Six
successive Popes resided here from 1309. Avignon is one of very few
French cities to have preserved its ramparts. Within these walls,
the UNESCO-listed city centre radiates out from the Place de
l'Horloge, so named for the fortified tower on the square which now
houses a clock and Jacquemert.
The park of Rocher des Doms offers panoramic views
out over the city. Dominating the skyline is the enormous Gothic
Palais des Papes, the seat of papal power in the 14th century. The
Notre-Dame des Doms Cathedral supports a magnificent gold statue of
the Virgin Mary. Also visible in the Petit Palais, a former
cardinal's residence turned museum. The Pont d'Avignon clings
proudly to its reputation as the world's most famous
one-fifth-of-a-bridge.
Avignon nurtures a strong culture of art, drama and
gastronomy. The covered market of Halles is adorned with a
remarkable hanging garden. Visitors here are treated to more than
40 vendors selling specialties from the region, as well as daily
cooking demonstrations. Those visiting in July will see the town
transformed for the Festival d'Avignon, one of the biggest live
performance events in the world.
Pont d'Avignon
Donald Albury
Orange
Just north of Avignon, Orange was the former seat of the Counts
of Orange, a title created in the 8th century and passed to the
Dutch crown in the 16th century. The family's most famous member
was Prince William, who ascended the English throne in 1689. Today
the town is best known for its spectacular Roman theatre and
triumphal arch, both of which remain remarkably intact. The Roman
Theatre is 2,000 years old and will leave visitors breathless with
wonder; it truly is an amazing site to visit. They hold concerts
here in summer. The rest of Orange isn't strikingly picturesque;
however, there are pleasant tree-lined streets and squares with
some nice cafes and restaurants and, delightfully, there is a small
river, the Meyne, which runs lazily through part of the town,
winding around buildings and gardens, which gives Orange a
surprisingly pastoral feel. It is also worth visiting the Colline
St Eutrope park area which runs across the big hill in Orange and
is traversed by lovely paths perfect for a walk or jog. There is a
fantastic view from parts of the hill, looking down on the Roman
Theatre at the base.
Address:
Ten miles (16km) north of Avignon.
Theatre of Orange
Mark Goebel
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a medieval village on the side of a hill,
dominated by the ruins of an ancient château towering above. The
château was the pope's summer retreat from the Palais and although
all that remains are the foundations and two outer walls it is
still an imposing sight and a wonderful viewpoint. The village
below is a maze of well-restored medieval buildings and narrow
streets that weave around the hillside. The village was once
encircled by two concentric walls: the outer wall enclosed the
chateau and the entire village, as far as the main road at the
bottom of the village; the inner wall enclosed the chateau and only
the highest part of the village. Today life in the village often
involves working in the surrounding vineyards or selling the famous
wine to the many tourists who visit. The Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOC is
one of the most renowned wines of the Loire Valley; the area is
particularly famous for its red wine. Naturally, there are great
wine tasting experiences to be had in the village and Les Caves
Saint Charles (located in the Pope's Cellar, which dates back to
the 13th century) is a favourite wine tasting venue with tourists.
The Chateau la Nerthe is a picturesque vineyard which has lovely
grounds and also hosts great wine tastings. Visitors will be
spoiled for choice with vineyards and tastings, however, and there
are many to choose from.
Address:
The village is 11 miles (18km) northeast of
Avignon.
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Larry
Saint Rémy de Provence
While it's a bit off the beaten path for most holidaymakers in
France, St-Rémy de Provence is among the most attractive and
interesting towns in Provence, and is well worth the 12 mile (19km)
journey from Avignon. The city centre has many beautiful buildings,
including the Chapelle Notre-Dame de Pitié and the Hôtel
Estrine.
Aside from the attractive town itself, St-Rémy is surrounded by
beautiful countryside, which inspired many paintings by Vincent van
Gogh. The artist lived in St-Rémy de Provence for a time, and the
city has the somewhat dubious honour of being the place where he
famously cut off his ear, after which he committed himself to the
Monastère de St-Paul-de-Mausolée, an asylum that now offers
visitors walking tours.
Vincent van Gogh is not the only famous resident of St-Rémy,
however, as the city was also the birthplace of 16-century author
Nostradamus, famous for his predictions for the future, and was the
favourite residence of Princess Caroline of Monaco for a time.
Visitors will fall in love with this perfect example of sleepy
small-town France, with its busy markets and quiet atmosphere. Near
the city, the remains of a Gallo-Roman settlement from the 2nd
century BC can be found and are also worth a visit.
Address:
12 miles (19km) from Avignon
Saint Remy de Provence
Marc Ryckaert
Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence is the cultural and touristic capital
of Provence. This beautiful university town has been an inspiration
to many great writers and painters, most famously Paul Cézanne, who
was inspired by the Provence countryside to produce his
masterpieces, some of which can be seen in his hometown at the
Musée Granet, in the Quartier Mazarin.
Aix possesses a wealth of superb architecture that
has been carefully preserved and restored. Walking through the
Cours Mirabeau and the Rue Gaston de Saporta, visitors can admire
the famous fountains, and the private mansions with their sculpted
doors, windows, and intricate ironwork on the balconies. On the
Place des Martyrs de la Résistance is the ancient Cathedral and in
the neighbouring archbishop's palace is the Musée des Tapisseries.
A great way to see the city and surrounding countryside is by
renting a bicycle.
Shopping is one of the main reasons that tourists
flock to Aix-en-Provence. There is a large market every Saturday on
Avenue du Cap-Pinede, and smaller ones on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The town centre is quite compact and each square seems to have its
own bazaar. There is the flower market at the Place de l'Hotel de
Ville, and vegetable and fruit stalls at the nearby Marche des
Capucins.
There are many bars and pubs to choose from in town,
and a large student population ensures that the nightlife is always
lively. Aix-en-Provence has a thriving jazz scene centred on the
Hot Brass Jazz Club and the Scat Club.
Vendome Pavilion, Aix-en-Provence
Provence has a Mediterranean climate with long, warm summers and
cold winters. Temperatures along the coast tend to be slightly
higher and swimming in the Mediterranean can be enjoyed as late as
September and October. Most rainfall occurs in spring (April to
May) but Provence is dry in comparison to much of France and hardly
ever experiences frost in winter, let alone snow. Provence is
renowned for the presence of the Mistral wind, a cold, dry,
northwesterly wind that funnels down the Rhone Valley, often
reaching 60 miles per hour (100km/hr), and is at its strongest and
most frequent during winter and spring. Spring compensates for this
chance of wind and rain with its blooming flowers, which make the
countryside even more beautiful. Although in the last few years
summers have been quite hot, Provence is generally known for its
mild weather, which is one of its advantages for travellers. It is
a year-round travel destination but remains very popular in summer
which is peak tourist season for most of France.
Attractions in Provence are centred on interesting and
picturesque villages with wonderful historical sightseeing
opportunities. Baux de Provence is an ancient village with a ruined
chateau that commands spectacular views over Provence to the
Mediterranean sea. Chateauneuf-du-Pape is a medieval village
dominated by the ruins of the ancient chateau which was once the
Pope's summer retreat, and is also one of the best places to visit
for wine tasting. Orange, an ancient Roman town, still boasts an
astoundingly well-preserved Roman theatre and triumphal arch, and
those that visit in summer can attend concerts at the ancient
theatre.
Of course, the Provence landscapes are also very
beautiful and have famously inspired many artists. Saint Rémy de
Provence is one of the most attractive towns in the region, which
is saying something, and it is the setting for several paintings by
Vincent van Gogh. The Saint Victoire Mountain, just outside of
Aix-en-Provence, inspired some of Cézanne's paintings, and has
magnificent hiking trails.
Another glorious area for hiking, and kayaking, is
the Verdon Canyon, where even just driving along the sheer gorge is
breathtaking. A good base from which to explore this area is the
charming village of Moustiers Saint Marie.