Avignon is a mysterious city in France. Entertainment and recreation. Search flights to Avignon

Avignon is a city in France, located in the south of the country. In total, there are 270 cities in France, Avignon is in 45th place in terms of population, it is preceded by such large cities as Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Nice and others. The city is located on the site of an ancient Celtic-Ligurian fortress, which was located here 2.5 thousand years ago. Since the XIII century, Avignon was considered the official papal residence. Thanks to this, a majestic building was erected in the city - the Papal Palace. At the same time, the first university was opened in the city.

Key facts about the city:

Country: France, Europe

Region: Provence - Alpes - Cote d'Azur

Area: 64.78 km²

Population: 89380 people

Official language: French

How to get to Avignon

By plane. It will not be possible to get to Avignon airport from Moscow or another foreign city, since Avignon airport serves only domestic flights. There is an option to fly direct to airports in big cities, from there already fly to Avignon. For example, Nimes airport. Upon arrival at the airport, you need to get to the city of Nimes. Bus stop right at the exit from the terminal, ticket - 5 euros *, departure - 15 minutes after each scheduled flight arriving at the airport and 2 hours before the departure of a regular flight from the Nimes station (the bus arrives in Nimes at the Feuchères stop) or you can take a taxi (the cost will be about 15-20 euros *).

Regular direct TER trains run from Nimes to Avignon:

• travel time - 30 - 33 minutes - TER or 24 minutes - TGV.
• Ticket price: 9.40 (TER) - 12.30 (TGV) euro*.
• Departure: 8:24, 8:49, 10:49, 12:49, 13:24, 13:33 (TGV), 13:49, 14:34, 15:56, 16:49, 17:24, 17 :49, 18:24, 18:49, 19:49, 20:24.

By bus. Buses are one of the most popular means of transportation between cities. The bus station of Avignon is located on the Boulevard Saint-Roch. You can buy a ticket directly from the driver.

By train. There are two railway stations in Avignon: one of them is located in the center and is called "Avignon Center", the other is four kilometers from Avignon. It is at the second railway station that TGV trains arrive. From Paris to Avignon by high-speed train TGV can be reached in 2 hours and 40 minutes, from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport in 3 hours, from Lyon in just 1 hour.

By TGV train from Nice to Avignon - from 2 hours to 3 hours 45 minutes, ticket prices vary: from 25 euros (special offer) to 86 euros for first class.

The Marseille-Avignon route has both high speed trains(journey time less than 45 minutes), and those that will travel about one and a half to two hours.

Note! On the French website railways when buying a ticket online, it is not possible to pay for it from a card of Russian banks.

By car. Traveling by car from Moscow to Avignon is a rather tiring and long journey. But there is still a plus in such a trip: during the trip, the tourist will need to overcome over three thousand kilometers. This long journey will pass through Belarus, Poland, Germany, so there will be an opportunity to visit such cities: Minsk, Warsaw, Dresden, Nuremberg, Strasbourg and others.

Approximate travel time by car between Avignon and Nice is 2.5 hours; Avignon and Aix-en-Provence - 1 hour; Avignon and Arles - 35 minutes, Avignon and Marseille - 1 hour, Avignon and Montpellier - 1 hour.

high speed train

From the center of Avignon, Paris can be reached by bus (daily 6.14-23.11; 1.10 €*). These buses stop near the post office, not far from the main tourist office. Main inquiry Office local buses is located at: 1 avenue de Lattre de Tassigny ( bus stops Poste, Cit Administrative, Gare Routire and Gare, all within a five minute walk).

Climate of Avignon

At this time of the year there is little rain, no more than two days a month, from 20.8 to 52.0 mm of precipitation falls. Also warm sea with water temperature from +21.2°C to +21.9°C

Autumn is quite mild. The average air temperature in autumn during the daytime is +19 °C, while in the evening it drops to +14 °C. But November is not the most tourist month, it rains on average 6 days. The maximum monthly rainfall is 81.3 mm.

Winter in Avignon low season– The average air temperature in winter during the daytime is +9 °C, while in the evening it drops to +6 °C. Most cold month— December, when the air warms up to +7.4°C

In the spring in Avignon, the weather is quite comfortable: average temperature air in spring during the daytime is +18 °C, while in the evening it drops to +14 °C.

Avignon, France attractions

Small Palace (Le Petit Palais)

On a note! The Petit Palace houses the largest collection of Italian paintings, second only to the Louvre collection in scale. The permanent exhibition presents works of the 13th - early 16th centuries, including paintings by famous Italian painters: Sandro Botticelli, Vittorio Caraccio, Lorenzo Monaco and others.

Permanent exhibitions in the Small Palace:

• Les Peintures Italiennes - Italian paintings

Sculptures of Avignonnaises

• Les Peintures de l'Ecole d'Avignon - Pictures of the School of Avignon

Address: Palais des archevêques, Place du Palais, 84000 Avignon France

Phone: +33 4 90 86 44 58

Facade of the Small Palace

papal palace

The Papal Palace is a monument of history and architecture, the former residence of the popes. The transfer of the residence from Rome was caused by a conflict between the Catholic Church and the ruling monarchs: the next pope decided to move to Avignon, which seemed to him safer. So he did in 1309, and for the next almost 70 years Avignon was the center of catholic church. Then the pope and his court returned to Rome, the palace that was built for them has survived to this day, and the whole epic went down in history as the "Avignon Papacy."

Address: Place du Palais, 84000 Avignon, France

Architects: Jean de Louvres, Pierre Poisson, Raymond Guitbaud, Pierre Obreri

Opening hours: daily from 09:00 to 17:00 (depending on the season, the schedule may change)

Ticket price: 12 euros*.

Getting to the papal palace is not so easy: from Avignon train station by TGV train to Avignon Poste station, then by bus to papal palace.

Surrounded by beautiful battlements stretching over 4 km, Avignon is one of the largest and most beautiful cities Provence. Once the papal seat, the city is rich in numerous treasures, but none of them can compare with the Papal Palace, the largest Gothic palace in Europe, submitted by UNESCO on the World Heritage List.

Known for its annual theater festival, Avignon is both a college town and an ideal starting point for exploring the entire region. In France and beyond, Avignon is primarily known for its legendary Pont Saint-Bénézet. For the whole of 2000, Avignon was elected European Capital of Culture.

History paragraph

Avignon(Avignon) - fortified and at the same time very colorful city Provence, famous for the "Avignon captivity of the popes" (1309-1378). In ancient times, the city was the capital of the Gallic tribe of Cavars, later a Roman colony. In the Middle Ages, the area belonged to the Papal Court, who ruled the lands through their vice-legate, and had a good income from the export of high quality sand from local deposits to Italy, for the production of glass. In 1797, according to the peace treaty in Tolentino, the city passed to France.

How to get there

Avignon Airport is located 8 km southeast of the city. Shuttles from the airport to the city center regular buses(line number 21).

Search flights to Avignon

By train

Avignon has two railway stations: Avignon-TGV, located 4 km southwest of the city, and Avignon Center (42 boulevard Saint-Roch), where you arrive suburban trains from Orange (8-13 EUR, 18 min.), Arles (9-14 EUR, 17 min.) and Nimes (10-17 EUR, 33 min.). Regular buses (2-3 EUR) run from the Avignon-TGV station to the Avignon-Center station.

Please note that some TGV trains from Paris arrive at Avignon Centre, while TGV trains from Marseille (20-25 EUR, 35 min.) and Nice (55-65 EUR, 3 h. 15 min.) arrive only on Avignon-TGV.

On Saturdays from the beginning of July to the beginning of September, Eurostar operates services to London (6.5 hours) and Ashford (6.5 hours).

Prices on the page are for August 2018.

By bus

Buses run to Avignon from Aix-en-Provence (6-9 EUR, 1 hour 28 min.), Arles (6-9 EUR, 50 min.), Carpentras (2-3 EUR, 53 min.), Marseille ( 7-19 EUR, 1.5 h), Nimes (2-3 EUR, 1 h 34 min.) and Orange (2-4 EUR, 1 h). The bus station is located at Boulevard Saint-Roch on the ground floor railway station. The information desk of the bus station is open from 10:15 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00 from Monday to Friday. Tickets are sold on the buses.

To reduce traffic within the city walls, the city has 900 free parking spaces at Parking de L'Ile Piot, served by a free shuttle.

Guides in Avignon

Popular hotels in Avignon

Weather in Avignon

Entertainment and attractions of Avignon

papal palace

The main architectural dominant of the city is the Palais des Papes, impressive in its grandeur and scale, on the rocky slopes of the northern tip of the city. Pope Benedict XII (1334-1342) began with the reconstruction of the old episcopal palace, and by the time construction was completed in 1364, the fortification complex consisted of the Old Palace - a massive building with powerful walls and towers and a monastery (architect Pierre Poisson Mirepeaux), and the New Palace with chapel for papal worship.

Two towers were built under Innocent VI, Urban V completed the courtyard, known as the courtyard of the Legion of Honor. total area the palace was 11 thousand square meters. m., and the interiors were richly decorated with frescoes, tapestries, sculptures, paintings and carved wood panels. The palace has been beautifully restored and is open to the public, as well as a large conference center and the archive of the Vaucluse department.

papal palace

The Papal Palace in Avignon is the largest Gothic palace in Europe - 15 thousand m² of its living space is equivalent to the area of ​​four Gothic cathedrals. More than 20 rooms are open to visitors in the palace, which were witnesses of important historical events. The most notable in the palace are the papal chambers and frescoes by the Italian artist Matteo Giovannetti.

During the summer, various cultural events take place in the palace, the most important of which is the theater festival founded by Jean Vilar in 1947.

The palace is open daily throughout the year, the entrance ticket is 12/10 EUR for an adult/child (from 8 to 18 years old). Those who wish are provided with audio guides, which are included in the ticket price.

Pont Saint-Benézet

Not far from the Palais des Papes is the ruined Pont Saint-Bénézet, built between 1171 and 1185. and connecting Avignon with Villeneuve-les-Avignon, which is on the left bank. The original length of the bridge was about 900 m, however, as a result of floods, the bridge was repeatedly destroyed and also rebuilt several times. In connection with the replacement of the destroyed spans with wooden structures, movement on the bridge became more and more dangerous over time. As a result of a severe flood in 1668, the bridge was decommissioned and abandoned, and no further attempts were made to restore it. Since then, the remaining spans of the bridge have been consistently destroyed, and only 4 out of 22 spans have survived to this day in their original form.

Cathedral of Avignon

Of the other attractions of Avignon, it deserves attention Cathedral Notre-Dame des Doms on the 12th century rock of Roc-des-Doms, the most prominent element of which is the gilded statue of the Virgin Mary crowning the western tower. The interior of the cathedral is notable for the masterpiece of Gothic carvings of the 14th century. - Mausoleum of Pope John XXII.

Moreover, majestic gothic cathedral which has a papal marble throne in the Byzantine style, numerous frescoes, paintings, the mausoleums of Pope Benedict XII and the tomb of Crillon, the famous commander Henry IV.

Museums of Avignon

Well, the regulars of museums in Avignon are most fond of the Calvet Foundation, with the support of the state, the head of the museum and library of the collector Esprey Calvet. Here are archaeological finds, sculptural and architectural antiquities of the Middle Ages and modern times, art and portrait galleries, a collection of coins, an office of rarities and a library with 85 thousand volumes and 2500 rare manuscripts.

Fans of cultural pastime will also be delighted by the Petit Palais Museum with an exceptional collection of the Avignon School of Renaissance painting, which got its name from the Petit Palais (Petit Palais in translation from French means "Small Palace"). The palace played the role of a citadel during the Great Schism from 1396 to 1411, at the end of which it was almost completely destroyed. In the second half of the 15th c. restoration work was carried out in the palace, and by 1503 he had acquired his modern look. Later, the southern and western facades were added, and in 1487 a tower collapsed in 1767. With Avignon receiving the status of an archbishopric, the Petit Palais becomes the Archbishop's Palace.

The ringing of a thousand bells in the midday heat, unique a stone bridge Saint-Benezet, lavender-warm notes of Provence - this is what the name of the city of Avignon has been associated with for many centuries. Since 2000 it has also been considered cultural capital Europe.

General information

Avignon is the city of the theatre, students and the first city to visit when you come to Provence. It is located on the left bank of the Rhone and in ancient time was the capital of the Kavars - the Galic tribe. Many monuments of the Roman era have been preserved here. In the Middle Ages, Avignon came under the jurisdiction of the Popes, who were engaged in the development of sand and its sale. Here the Popes lived during their captivity, which went down in history under the name "Avignon". In subsequent years, after the return of the Popes to Rome, the city experienced a period of decline and only in the twentieth century regained its beauty and world fame.

Weather in Avignon

The climate of Avignon is typical of many cities in mediterranean coast, all four seasons clearly manifest themselves here: spring lasts from March to May, summer from June to August, autumn from September to November, and winter from December to March. The weather in the city is enough hot in summer and cold in winter. Rains here are unpredictable, they can come at any time of the year. Severe thunderstorms are also possible from time to time in summer.

The maximum temperature in the city is possible in summer (up to 35°C), in winter the temperature rarely drops below 0°C.

Transport in Avignon

Avignon Airport has a very convenient location, and therefore is considered a popular transport hub. You can get from it to the city and vice versa by regular buses.

Some visitors also use the services railway transport(the city has 2 railway stations - Avignon-TGV and Avignon-Centre). From one station to another, as well as to the city center can be reached with a regular bus.

Avignon is served by regional buses from Aix-en-Provence, Arles, Carpentre, Marseille, Nimes and Orange.

The city has municipal transport, as well as 900 free parking for cars. Parking lots are served by free shuttles.

Districts of Avignon

The historical center of the city is a rhombus, each side of which has a length of 1 km.

In the west and north, the city protects the Rhone with its waves, and in the east and south, where massive stone city walls once stood, today there is a boulevard ring. City center - since 1995 one of the objects world heritage UNESCO.

The outskirts of the city are modern new buildings and cottage settlements, in which most of the inhabitants of Avignon live a fairly modern and ordinary life.

Sights of Avignon

Avignon architecture

The architectural sights of Avignon are one of its main features and the main object of attention for visitors.

• Cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-Dome (Avignon Cathedral), erected in the XII century Main character Cathedral - a gilded statue of the Virgin above its western tower. The Gothic mausoleum of Pope John XXII was also built here. Portico of this grand structure often erroneously called the remnant of the Temple of Hercules. The reason for this - used in its construction white marble and Byzantine building style.
• Gothic churches - Saint-Didier, Saint-Pierre, Saint-Agricol.
• The ramparts and walls surrounding the city are the best-preserved fortifications in Europe.
• Pont Saint-Bénézet, built in the 12th century and located near the Palace of the Popes. It was seriously damaged after the Rhone flood in the 17th century, after which it was decommissioned. Of the 22 spans, only 4 remained, as well as a small chapel. Previously, the bridge had a length of almost 1 kilometer.
• Celestine Church, where Antipope Clement VII and St. Benizet. The latter became famous for the construction of a grandiose stone bridge across the Rhone, which connected the city with the town of Villeneuve-les. That is why it is called Pont Saint-Bénézet.

• The Palace of the Popes, built throughout the 14th century, is located on the southern slope of the mountain. This is a whole system of powerful fortifications, located completely asymmetrically. In the beginning. In the 19th century, barracks and a dungeon were placed in the palace, and frescoes created in the 14th century have survived to this day in two of the halls. From the rock platform you can see the surrounding mountains.
• Palace of the Palais du Rour, built in the 15th century and today by the Center of Provencal Culture.
• Streets Petite-Fusterie and Joseph-Vernet, famous for the quarters of old luxurious mansions restored by the current owners.

Museums of Avignon

The museums of Avignon also deserve special attention, because they contain many exhibits that allow you to immerse yourself in the world of Southern France as much as possible.

• Petit Palais Museum, which means Petit Palace in translation. Here are collected copies of the local school of painting of the Renaissance period. The palace served as a citadel in the late XIV - early XV 15th centuries, but then was completely destroyed. Later, restoration was carried out here and the palace acquired the form that it has today. Somewhat later, a tower was added to the palace, which does not exist now, as well as the western and southern facades. After Avignon received the status of an archbishopric, it became the palace of the Archbishop.
• The Calvet Museum (Fondation Calvet), located on the territory of an 18th-century palace, is known for its collection of art objects. The author of the collection is the physician Espri Calve, who bequeathed his collection to the city in 1810.
• The Requien Museum, also called the Natural History Museum.
• The Lapider Historical Museum presents specimens on the history of the Gallo-Roman period and also belongs to the Calvet Foundation.
• The Louis-Vulan Museum acquaints visitors with the medieval life of the inhabitants of the city.

Churches of Avignon

Avignon is a very devout city; churches can be found here in almost every quarter. But the most interesting from the standpoint of architectural and artistic value can be considered the following:

• Saint-Agricol, located behind the town hall and built in the XIV century.
• Celestine Church, where the remains of Pope Clement VII are laid to rest.
• Saint-Pierre and Saint-Didier, whose construction lasted from the 14th to the 17th century.

On weekends, all of these churches ring bells, which are joined by the chime of many others located within a radius of three to five blocks.

Other sights of Avignon

The natural sites of Avignon deserve the closest attention, especially the Rocher-des-Dome park, laid out in the area of ​​​​the city hall, where people like to relax like locals and visitors to the city.

The most atmospheric street of the city can be considered the picturesque Teinturiers, where the spirit of medieval manufactories reigns to this day. Once upon a time, the petty bourgeoisie flourished here, specializing in dyeing fabrics and making serious capital on it. The factories have been closed for a long time, but their giant wheels continue to work on the Sarg Canal. The enterprises themselves today serve as inexpensive restaurants, shops, offices and hotels.

Holidays in Avignon

The city has been living in its traditional rhythm for many hundreds of years; almost all Catholic holidays are celebrated here on a large scale. But there are also quite popular social events:

Summer theater festival organized in summer (July - early August), attracting thousands of tourists. Mostly young people come here, representing almost all states of the world, ready to have fun to the fullest

In late November - early December, the city hosts a Christmas market. It is not as popular as the Arles fair, but it is interesting for the products of local artisans presented there - very soulful and ethnic.

Avignon Restaurants

In Avignon, there are restaurants of various culinary trends, but still, most tourists prefer restaurants. national cuisine. The most famous dishes local cuisine consider the following:

• "pot-o-feu" - stew,
• steak with fried potatoes,
• pork legs fried in breadcrumbs,
• quail and pheasants with fruit or vegetable garnishes.

National cuisine in the city is presented in a number of establishments that are very pleasant in terms of interior and quality of service:

• Brunel - offers visitors traditional Provencal cuisine, but the interior of the establishment is minimalist.
• "Christian Etienne" - an ethnic style restaurant with classic French cuisine.
• "Le Diapazo" is a very cozy restaurant with its own garden and a large TV that will definitely not let you get bored.
• "La Fourchette" is a place where you can get a wonderful gastronomic experience that will add a lot of pleasant impressions to your trip to Avignon.

Things to do in Avignon

Avignon is one of the world's centers of art and culture, and therefore everyone can find entertainment here to their taste.

• You can have a good time in the bosom of nature, and at the same time you can go in for sports (walk more than a hundred steps) in the Rocher des Doms park.
• New films are shown in cinemas Cinéma Utopia, Avignon Festival.
• The latest theatrical premieres are shown in a magnificent opera house Opéra Théâtre d "Avignon. But you can have a good lunch and enjoy theatrical art at the opera Le Palais Royal.

Shopping in Avignon

Avignon offers shoppers a wide range of shopping destinations. Fine yellow-green Provencal pottery, brightly colored fabrics, lavender products and much more are often brought from here. tasty food. Local wines - also good buy, especially on the market in Les Halles d "Avignon.

The most popular shopping area is Rue de la Republique, where there are both modest shops and expensive boutiques.

For those who are looking for really branded things, we can recommend establishments on the streets located near the pedestrian tourist areas:

• Rue Joseph-Vernet,
• Rue des Marchands,
• Rue des Fourbisseurs,
• Rue de la Bonneterie,
• Rue du Vieux Sextier.

Avignon - perfect place to enjoy the romance of Provence, imperceptibly wedged into the modern dynamic life. Of course, it is impossible to know this city in one day, but after spending a week in it, you will undoubtedly fall in love, for life.

1379.8 people/km²

(fr.)