Avignon Provence-Beyond (Beyond the French Riviera) ® Vaucluse (84000) Population: 87'000 (181'00 area) Altitude: 23 m Also for Avignon: [ main page | Avignon Popes ] Nearby: [ Aix/pvc 82 km | Alpilles | Arles 36 | Cavaillon 23 | Châteauneuf-du-Pape 18 | Fontaine-de-Vaucluse | l'Isle/Sorgue | Lagnes | Marseilles 95 | Nîmes 44 | Orange 31 | Pernes-les-Fontaines 24 ] Photos: Pont d'Avignon from the river (15 k) Below: [ History | Dates | Museums | Places | Festival | Transportation | Hiking | Lodging ] Avignon is definitely not a town to stay in if you're interested in sightseeing the surrounding countryside and don't have much time. Once in Avignon, you won't want to leave, and the town is too interesting to let you go. Avignon is ancient, full of history, life, youth, art, music and activity. Just to "see" the town itself, you could wander the narrow streets inside the fortified walls for days without tiring of them. Name The name Avignon comes from "Avenio" which means "town of violent winds" or "town of the river". First record, in Roman texts from the first century BC: Avenio History Prehistoric: The Rocher des Doms in the center of Avignon was the site of neolithic habitation. Celtic-Ligurian: Several centuries prior to the Romans, this was a Celtic-Ligurian river port called Cavares. Roman: Avignon was a major Roman town until about the 5th century. Medieval: Through the medieval period, Avignon has a strong and well-documented history, including the Popes who ruled from here, ecclesiastically and sometimes politically. Dates, Numbers Foire Exposition: end April Foire: 10-18 May Foire Brocante: Pentecost Foire Agricole (horses, tractors, etc.): 30 Nov, 01 Dec Festival d'Avignon - tel: (33) 490 27 66 50; fax: (33) 490 27 66 83 - (they also have their own web site) Office de Tourisme - Rue de la République tel: (33) 490 82 65 11; fax: (33) 490 82 95 03 Open: Mon-Fri 9h-13h, 14h-18h; Sat: 9h-13h; 14h-17h Office de Tourisme - Pont d'Avignon Open: 9h-13h; 14h-17h Markets, Brocantes Sat, Sun: Marché, Remparts St Michel Tue: Marché, La Trillade, Monclar, Montfavet Wed: Marché, St Jean-Monclar Fri: Marché, Pont des 2 Eaux Daily except Mon: Marché, Marché des Halles Sat: Brocante, Place Crillo Sun: Brocante, Parc Expos 1st Saturday: Cours J-Jaurès; books, records Museums Musée Calvet A small 18th-century mansion, with classical and modern art, Greek sculpture and a local prehistorical collection. Musée Lapidaire Located in the chapel of the 17th-century Jesuit College. Contains stone carvings and sculptures from the different civilizations, including a "bestiary". Rue de la République Open: daily except Tue, 10h-19h Musée Louis Vouland Decorative arts, especially for 18th-century French furnishings, porcelain and faience and tapestries. Musée Requien A large herbarium (worldwide collection); local botanical, geological and zoological collections; excellent natural history library. Musée Théodore Aubanel Printing implements and methods, and rare editions and documents about Avignon from the 13th to 20th centuries. Places Most of the Beyond villages are so small that everybody meets in the center square. Avignon is big enough to get lost in, at least if you're trying to meet someone. Place de l'Horloge A long square in front of the Hôtel de Ville, with terrace cafés along both sides and the "Belle Epoque" carrousel at the top end. Both streets at the top end of the Place d'Horloge lead to the Place du Palais and the Palace of the Popes. Place du Palais The large square in front of the Palais des Papes is easy to find, and an entertaining place to wait. La Civette - Café-Restaurant Place d'Horloge, at the top, near the carrousel. La Regence - Café-Restaurant Rue de la République, across from the Office de Tourisme Pont d'Avignon You can't miss it (as long as you don't walk too far across it), but a bit exposed for waiting. Festival d'Avignon The festival of Dance, Music and Theatre was founded in 1947 by the actor and director Jean Vilar. (The 1996 festival was the 50th.) The events occur all over town, often staged at historical monuments and in the streets, and with close audience rapport. This is now an international festival, with people from all over France, Europe and the rest of the world arranging vacations around the festival dates. Festival catalog and information - tel: (33) 490 27 66 50; fax: (33) 490 27 66 83 Transportation Train. Avignon is on the main Paris-Lyon-Nice-Italy line. [Rail Map] Gare d'Avignon (TGV) - Tel: (33) 836 35 35 35   Cycle Rentals   Air. Avignon airport - Tel: (33) 490 81 51 51 The airport is 8 km southeast of the center, at the Exposition Center, and along the main N7 highway. There is no bus or shuttle to town, and the taxi costs around 100-150 F.   Bus. Bus information is given the Travel-Bus page.   Boat Tours. A round-trip boat service between Avignon and Villeneuve includes a 1-1/4 hour exchursion on the Rhône. There are 6 trips a day, but only during July and August. Cost: 35 F adults; 18 F children There's also an evening trip, with dinner, during July and August. Cost: 120 F adults; 6j0 F children Grands Bateaux de Provence Allées de l'Oulle (beside the Rhône) Tel: (33) 04 90 85 62 26; Fax: (33) 04 90 85 61 14 Camping Hiking Maps: IGN "bleue" (1:25,000) 3041 ouest "Avignon" IGN "verte" (1:100,000) #66 "Avignon, Montpellier" The GR42 and GR63 (Grande Randonnée) pass by Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, just across the river to the west (an easy walk across the bridge). The GR42 goes southwest to Montfrin, then joins the GR6 which heads southeast to Tarascon and the Alpilles. The GR42 also heads north, past Roquemaure and Laudun. The GR63 goes west, past the A9 autoroute, to Pont du Gard and points west. Sports and Montagne (supplies) and Alain Hantz - Guide de Haute Montagne 50, rue Carnot tel: (33) 490 85 61 45 Lodging Listing available