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Avignon & Around
Why Go?
Avignon......................... 189
Villeneuve-lèsAvignon......................... 199
Châteauneufdu-Pape.......................... 200
Orange ..........................202
Vaison-la-Romaine .......204
Dentelles de
Montmirail ....................206
Mont Ventoux ...............208
Pernes-les-Fontaines ....212
L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.......212
Fontaine-de-Vaucluse ...214
Les Alpilles.....................216
St-Rémy de Provence ...216
Nîmes & Around .......... 219
Encircled by crenellated ramparts dating back 800 years,
Avignon lords above the mighty River Rhône. Its 14thcentury hilltop palace – the former seat of popes – defines
the skyline and begs exploration, while the narrow streets
and leafy squares fanning out beneath it invite wandering.
Rolling countryside, dotted with ancient villages and
vineyards that produce some of France’s best wines, unfurls outside Avignon. Sample renowned vintages in
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, or in the saw-toothed Dentelles de
Montmirail. Discover incredibly preserved Roman ruins in
Orange, Nîmes and St-Rémy de Provence, and explore medieval streets in Vaison-la-Romaine and Les Baux de Provence.
The glass-green River Sorgue – ready-made for canoeing –
connects picturesque towns like L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, celebrated for antiques shopping, and Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, the river’s
mysterious source. Hikers and bikers flock windswept Mont
Ventoux, Provence’s highest peak, rising from purple lavender
fields that perfume the summer breeze.
» L’Oustau de Baumanière
(p219)
Carpentras
25
» Le Verger des Papes (p201)
Nîmes
42
67
» Moulin à Huile (p206)
Orange
27
22
53
St-Rémy de Provence
20
45
41
48
Vaison-la-Romaine
46
24
80
28
70
Avignon
Carpentras
Nîmes
Orange
St-Rémy de
Provence
Best Places to Eat Driving Distances (km)
» Le Vivier (p213)
» Mas de l’Amarine (p217)
Best Places to
Stay
» Hôtel la Mirande (p195)
» Hôtel Boquier (p195)
» Hôtel l’Herbier d’Orange
(p202)
» Sous les Figuiers (p217)
188
AVIGNON & AROUND
DON’T MISS
Getting Around
Wrapping your head
around Avignon means
exploring the Palais des
Papes (p189). Leave
time to wander the adjacent Rocher des Domes
Park to take in vistas of
the Rhône Valley.
A car is a nuisance in Avignon – streets are often closed to
traffic, and parking garages are expensive – but to see surrounding smaller towns at leisure, you’ll need wheels. If you
don’t want to drive, buses from Avignon serve most villages;
trains serve only larger towns and cities, including Orange
and L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.
Best Places to
Ditch Crowds
» Visite Secrét du Palais
des Papes (p189)
» Jardins de l’Abbaye
(p199)
» Canoeing the Sorgue
(p214)
» Hiking Mont Ventoux
(p208)
» Suzette (p206)
Best Tours &
Courses
» Avignon Wine Tour (p194)
» La Truffe du Ventoux Truffle Tour (p207)
» Le Marmiton Cooking
School (p195)
» Autocars Lieutaud Sightseeing (p194)
Resources
» Provence Guide (www.
provenceguide.com) Includes
lodging specials and itineraries.
» Avignon Tourism (www.
avignon-tourisme.com) The
city’s official tourism site.
THREE PERFECT DAYS
Day 1: Roman Relics
Choose one of three areas to discover incredible Roman
ruins. Near chic St-Rémy de Provence, explore Glanum
(p216), the remains of a Gallo-Roman town built around
a sacred spring. North of Avignon, Orange has the
best-preserved Roman theatre in Europe (p202), and
is close to France’s largest archaeological site, Vaisonla-Romaine (p204). Pont du Gard (p221), the famous
three-tiered aqueduct, is half way between Avignon and
Nîmes, the latter of which is home to a brilliant Roman
amphitheatre, Les Arènes (p219).
Day 2: Cycling and Wine-Tasting the
Dentelles de Montmirail
The jagged limestone Dentelles, dotted with sleepy
villages and wineries, are ideal for exploring by bicycle. Tourist offices at Vaison-la-Romaine (p206) and
Beaumes de Venise (p208) provide detailed back-road
route maps tailored to all fitness levels. Worthy destinations include Le Barroux (p207), home to a medieval
castle and working monastery; and the little town of
Gigondas (p206), where you can sample great reds at
cafes and tasting bars lining the sun-dappled village
square.
Day 3: The River Sorgue Special
Arrive early to beat the crowds to Fontaine-de-Vaucluse
(p214), the River Sorgue’s mysterious source. After
watching the giant spring bubble up from the earth’s
depths, float two hours downstream via canoe to L’Islesur-la-Sorgue (p212), where you can lunch by the water,
then explore antiques shops lining flowery lanes, and admire 18th-century canals and moss-covered waterwheels.
» Avignon & Provence (www.
avignon-et-provence.com)
Events, dining, lodging.
Advance Planning
» Provence Cycling (www.
provence-cycling.com) Cycling
maps and itineraries.
For the biggest summer festivals, book rooms six months to a
year ahead; buy tickets the day they become available.
» Festival d’Avignon
» Visit Provence (www.
» Les Chorégies d’Orange
visitprovence.com) Extensive
information on the Alpilles.
» Choralies, Vaison-la-Romaine
» Féria de Pentecôte, Nîmes