France's World Heritage Sites

By Jérôme Sabatier

Travel guide updated in May 2019.

Visit France differently! Thanks to "France's World Heritage Sites" travel guide, discover the most beautiful French cities, monuments and landscapes classified as World Heritage sites by UNESCO : Paris, Mont Saint Michel, the Palace of Versailles, Lyon, the medieval city of Carcassonne, Bordeaux, Strasbourg...

Find all the information necessary to prepare your trip and your stay in France in order to discover these exceptional sites of indisputable universal value : suggested itinerary for visiting, the history of each site and monument, touristic information, tips, the museums, an events calendar, practical information on transport, and a selection of more than 500 addresses of accommodation and restaurants. Informations, prices and opening hours shown are for 2019.

But most importantly, this “France's World Heritage” travel guide also offers a suggested itinerary for visiting each site and monument. You'll also find tips (transport, pricing, activities ... ), anecdotes and all the possibilities for family-friendly visits to encourage children and families in their discovery.

Enjoy reading and especially, ... bon voyage !

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jérôme Sabatier
• Release date: May 28, 2018
• ISBN: 9791096111800

Jérôme Sabatier

A word from the authorVisiting a Unesco World Heritage site is more than just simple tourism.It's a journey toward the discovery of cultures, history and nature.It's the opportunity to explore places that have contributed to the construction our history and our humanity, and that protect this heritage even today.It's the experience of being enriched by the collective universal memory that helps us understand the world around us.The sites on the World Heritage of Humanity list all have one thing in common: their universal nature. They teach us that the world – since antiquity – has been fashioned by often commercial crossroads encouraging cultural, scientific and religious fusions. They teach us that openness to others and exchange are indeed sources of prosperity for all societies.To travel to the heart of these World Heritage sites is to choose to embark on an ethnological, anthropological, sociological, historical, architectural, cultural or religious voyage ... or all this at once! In short, it represents a tourism based on tolerance among civilizations and on respect for future generations.Let's protect our fragile universal heritage. And let's pass it on to our children.

Book preview

MAP OF THE BEST WORLD HERITAGE SITES

Carte UK3

Albi - Episcopal City  2 coeurs

Amiens - Cathedral  1 coeur

Arles - Historic Center  3 coeurs

Avignon - Historic Center  3 coeurs

Bordeaux - Port of the Moon  3 coeurs

Bourges - Cathedral  1 coeur

Canal du Midi  3 coeurs

Carcassonne - Medieval City  3 coeurs

The Causses and The Cévennes  2 coeurs

Chartres - Cathedral  1 coeur

Fontainebleau - Palace and Park  2 coeurs

Fontenay - Abbey  1 coeur

Loire Valley  3 coeurs

Lyon - Historic Center  3 coeurs

Mont Perdu - Pyrénées  2 coeurs

Mont Saint Michel  3 coeurs

Nancy - Squares  1 coeur

Orange - Ancient Monuments  2 coeurs

Paris - Banks of the Seine  3 coeurs

Pont du Gard  2 coeurs

Provins - Town of Medieval fairs  1 coeur

Reims - Religious Heritage  2 coeurs

Saint Emilion - Jurisdiction  2 coeurs

Saint Savin - Abbey  2 coeurs

Saltworks  1 coeur

Strasbourg - Grande Ile  3 coeurs

Versailles - Palace and Park  3 coeurs

Vézelay - Church and Hill  2 coeurs

Vézère Valley  2 coeurs

3 coeurs  Unavoidable site during a stay in France

2 coeurs      Site to visit to understand France and its History

1 coeur          Site you might miss but you would regret it

Arles-Centre Historique

ARLES - HISTORIC CENTER  3 coeurs

Visit time : 3 days.

Arles has the largest number of ancient Roman monuments, after the city of Rome itself! A city of culture and history, Arles guides visitors on an extraordinary, timeless journey. Two thousand years of history, reflecting each of the city’s periods of prosperity, unfold in its streets, squares and monuments. In the footsteps of Van Gogh, who was inspired by its colors and light, Arles breathes with life.

---

Maps

Offline Map from the Tourist Office of Arles. To download first.

Online interactive Map with all addresses and locations. Street View. On the website, at the bottom of page.

---

World Heritage

Carte de Arles

Classified area listed as a World Heritage Site of Humanity by Unesco in 1981, completed in 2006.

The oldest Roman monuments in the city date from Antiquity: the Roman Amphitheatre (the Arena), the Roman Theater and the Cryptoportiques (covered passageway). During the 4th century, Arles became a major political and religious center; indeed, the Baths of Constantine and the sarcophagi of the necropolis of Alyscamps are testaments to that golden age. In the Middle Ages, Arles was one of the most beautiful cities in the Mediterranean world. Travelers from all over wrote enthusiastically about its monuments. The Alyscamps and the Eglise Saint Honorat illustrate the Christian influence in the city from the 4th to the 13th century.

The Roman and Romanesque Monuments of Arles were included on the World Heritage list in 1981. In 2006, the site was extended to include the ancient and medieval urban complex, that is to say, the entire city center.

Criteria for selection

Criterion (ii): the Place de la République and the Eglise Saint Trophime and its cloister are major monuments of Provençal Romanesque art. Their influence was considerable in the 12th and 13th century in the Mediterranean area.

Criterion (iv): Arles is a particularly significant example of the adaptation of an ancient city to medieval European civilization. In the 1st century BC, taking advantage of the decline of Marseille, the city enjoyed great prosperity under the Emperor Augustus.

Source : UNESCO / ICOMOS.

---

History

It was the strategic position of this location – linking Spain to Italy, and the presence of Rhône River – that prompted Julius Caesar to found a Roman colony in this area in 46 BC, sending the veterans of the 6th legion. It would become a great and prosperous city under Constantine thanks to the richness of its port and industrial center. The city was thereafter enriched by beautiful monuments : a forum, temples, theaters, an amphitheater, baths ... An aqueduct brought pure water from the Alpilles. Prosperity earned the city the title of Little Rome of Gaul. In the 3rd century, the church of Arles was organized. The Christian necropolis of Alyscamps took on an exceptional scale. Throughout the Middle Ages, the Church of Arles extended its influence over its vast diocese. It reached its peak in the 12th century with the construction of the religious complex of Saint Trophimus and canonical buildings around a cloister. Arles also welcomed pilgrims traveling along the Pilgrimage Route of Saint Jacques de Compostela.

In the 16th century, the city experienced a new period of prosperity, and it was during this period that architecture of the Renaissance took off. Influenced by an antique style, it created a link with its glorious history. It was during the 17th and 18th centuries that the center of Arles acquired its current facades: the city hall was built, mansions blossomed, houses even emerged from within the zone today classified as a World Heritages Site. Restoration of the ancient monuments began in the 19th century under the leadership of the municipality. Today, Arles offers a unique architectural and artistic landscape, and history lives on through the alleyways of the city center. Arles is also a place of imagination. By the splendor of its natural elements - the Rhone River, the light, the wind - it has never ceased to attract artists.

---

Tourist Office

Tourist Office of Arles

9 Boulevard des Lices , 13200 Arles

Website - tel : [phone].

Open daily.

April through September: 9 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.

October through March, Monday to Saturday: 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. (5:45 p.m. on October); Sunday and holidays: 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. 

Accommodation available for visitors with disabilities.

In addition to general information, the Tourist Office offers a very interesting thematic path marked throughout the city. 

The Tourist Office organizes many city tours :

Possible visit of the city with an audio guide in French or English (rent: €5) or to download

Visit with Arles Tour app available for free on Google Play or App Store

Map with 4 pedestrian circuits also available for €1 or to download for free.

Guided Tours in English :

Guided tour of historic center, daily except on Wednesday and Sunday at 4 p.m.

Guided tour On the steps of Van Gogh on Wednesday and Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Meeting point at the Tourist office.

Unusual visits:

Visit with gyropod, from €23

Tuk-tuk tour, from €42 for two people (see getting around with Taco and Co).

---

Tips for visiting the monuments

"Pass Monuments" options, available for purchase at the Tourist Office, in each monument or on the website of the Tourist office.

Passeport avantage: access to all the museums and monuments. Full price / reduced price: €16 / €13.

Passeport liberté: access to a selection of monuments and museums. Full price / reduced price: €12 / €10.

---

Tips for visiting with children

Gladiators: Every Tuesday and Thursday in July and August.

The gladiators fight in the amphitheater. Information available at the Tourist Office.

---

Museums

Musée d'Arles Antique

Avenue 1ere division France libre, 13200 Arles

Website - tel : [phone].

Full price / reduced price: €8 / €5. Free for children under 18 years old and free general admission the first Sunday of each month.

Open daily: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays.

Getting to the museum

By shuttle: shuttle Navia (see getting around)

On foot: from the Amphitheater (arena): 20 minutes, from the Place du Forum: 15 minutes

By bicycle: Bicycle path from the quays to the museum. The museum is wheelchair accessible (wheelchairs available for use). Tactile tour for the visually impaired. Baby changing table.

The Museum of Ancient Arles, located since 1995 along the Rhone and built on the remains of the Roman circus, presents the archaeological collections of the city and its territory, from the Neolithic period to the end of antiquity. The collection includes beautiful sculptures, in particular the Venus of Arles (a copy, the original is in the Louvre) and the bust of Caesar, but also the most beautiful sarcophagi from the Alyscamps.

The museum organizes many activities for families as well as workshops for children.

---

Musée Réattu, fine arts museum of Arles

10 Rue du Grand Prieuré, 13200 Arles

Website - tel : [phone].

Full price/ reduced price: €8/ €6.

In August, full price/ reduced price: €9/ €7.

Ticket coupled with Van Gogh Foundation: €12.

Free for children under 18 years old and free general admission the first Sunday of each month.

From February through October, open: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

From November through January: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Mondays.

This art museum features works by Jacques Réattu, painter during the 18th and 19th centuries, more modern and contemporary artists, as well as a remarkable collection of photographs.

---

Muséon Arlaten

29 Rue de la République, 13200 Arles

Website - tel : [phone].

The Muséon Arlaten, museum of ethnography, is housed in the former Hôtel Laval-Castellane, dating from the 15th century. It was created in 1896 by a local writer, Frédéric Mistral. Its collection includes costumes, furniture, tools and objects from the 19th century. Closed for renovation, to reopen in 2019.

---

Events

Ferias (from April through September)

Website - tel : [phone].

The Easter Feria opens the French bullfighting season and attracts 500,000 visitors, and around 50,000 aficionados will watch the bullfights from the stands of the Roman arena. The Rice Feria takes place in early September.

La course camarguaise (from April through September)

Website - 08 91 70 03 70.

Races take place in the Arles arena.

The Camargue Races are open to the whole family, as there is no killing of bulls. The Cocarde d’Or takes place each year on the first Monday in July in the Arles arena. This race, held for the first time on July 2, 1928, is the flagship race of the bullfighting season.

Fête des Gardians (1st of May)

On this day, the horseback riders march through the city to the Church of the Major, the headquarters of their brotherhood dedicated to Saint-Georges. The guardians and their horses are blessed during a mass in Provençal. On that day, a new captain of the Brotherhood of Guardians is elected, and every three years the new Queen of Arles is elected.

Fêtes d'Arles (late June, early July)

The whole city vibrates to the sound of curves, traditional parades and arena shows. These festivals combine the dreamy Provence of Mistral and the Camargue imagined by the Marquis de Baroncelli. The gardians, figures of Camargue, challenge each other in a race of horses ridden raw: the race of Satin.

Les Rencontres d’Arles (from July through September)

Website - tel : [phone].

This festival of photography, created in 1969, is known around the world. It is THE annual photographers conference, and has allowed Arles to become a world capital of photography. The event offers nightly outdoor screenings at the Roman Theater, sometimes accompanied by concerts and artistic performances. The Nuit de l’année showcases photographs on giant screens for a photographic stroll through the city center. About 60 exhibitions are present at different landmarks of the city.

Also: lectures, debates and a meeting space with fans, collectors and professionals.

Camargue in the Arena (early August)

Through a spectacle evoking the magic of the Camargue, the guardians present bulls and horses in freedom. Camargue races and ancestral games.

Arelate Festival - Roman Days of Arles (late August)

Website - tel : [phone].

Information desks: The Esplanade of the amphitheater, Place Henri de Bornier or Ancienne poste, Place de la République.

During the Arelate, Roman Days of Arles, as its name suggests, Arles goes back in time to honor the Roman heritage of the city.

International Santon Exhibition (from late November to mid-January)

In the heart of the Saint Trophime cloister. This exhibition highlights the traditional craft of creating and hand-painting clay figurines, or santons.

Drôles de Noëls (Funny Christmas, week before Christmas)

A street arts festival that delves all the family into the magic of Christmas.

---

Markets

Typical Provençal market on Saturday morning: Boulevard des Lices, Boulevard Clémenceau. Available at the market : fruits, vegetables, cheeses, flowers, spices, meat, fish, honey, fresh and regional products, and also clothing and shoes. 

There is also a farmers' market held on the Esplanade that features many organic producers of vegetables, fruits, rice, bread and honey ... 

Market on Wednesday morning, Boulevard Emile Combes.

---

Transport

Getting to Arles

By car

From Marseille: highway N113/E80, exit 5

From Avignon: highway N570

From Nîmes: highway N572/E80, exit 5

From Montpellier: highway D572, exit 5

Nearby classified sites :

Nîmes: 32 km (20 mi), time: 30 minutes

Avignon: 37 km (23 mi), time: 50 minutes

Orange: 87 km (54 mi), time: 1 hour

Pont du Gard: 39 km (24 mi), time: 52 minutes

By bus

Urban and intercity buses

Avenue Paulin Talabot (in front of the train station), 13200 Arles

Tel : [phone]

Information and ticket purchase also available at the information desk at 24, Boulevard Clemenceau.

By Plane

Nîmes-Arles-Camargue Airport (25 kms)

Website -tel : [phone]. No shuttle.

Avignon-Caumont Airport (43 kms)

Website - tel : [phone].

Marseille-Provence Airport (65 kms)

Website - tel : [phone]. Regular shuttles to the city center.

By train

Gare SNCF

Avenue Paulin Talabot, 13200 Arles

Website - tel : 36 35.

Gare Avignon TGV (35 kms)

Quartier de la courtine, 84000 Avignon

Website - tel : 36 35

2 direct TGVs per day, Paris-Avignon-Arles. SNCF Shuttle from Avignon to Arles every 15 minutes. Allow 1 hour per trip.

---

Getting Around

Park your car

It is advised not to drive around the narrow streets of the city center, which is easily explored on foot.

Transport Tips

NAVIA is a free shuttle that connects the main tourist sites of the city center. Central stop at 24, Boulevard Georges Clemenceau.

Taxi-bike with Taco and Co

Website - Tel: [phone] or 04 82 75 73 45.

Offers a bicycle taxi service and guided bicycle tours of the city.

---

Sleeping / Eating

Hôtels in Arles

The selection of accommodation proposed below consists of establishments that offer quality services at competitive rates, they are considered as references in their respective categories. The prices shown are for the off season, on the basis of 2 people.

Grand Hôtel Nord-Pinus

arles-nord-pinus-la-faade petit

Place du Forum, 13200 Arles

Website - Tel: [phone].

Room from €180.

The Hotel Nord-Pinus plays a part in the memory of all Arlesians... For me, as a child, it was a temple of holiday making, society life and, above all else, bullfighting.  Christian Lacroix.

L’Hôtel Particulier *****

4 Rue de la Monnaie, 13200 Arles

Website - Tel: [phone].

Room from €315. 

Restaurants in Arles

The selection of restaurants proposed below consists of restaurants that offer a good price/quality value. These addresses are inside the classified area. Formule corresponds to a lunch special with a starter and a main course, or a main course and a dessert. The menus usually consist of a starter, a main course and a dessert," for lunch or dinner.

La cuisine de comptoir - sandwiches and tartines

10 rue de la liberté, 13200 Arles

Website - tel : [phone].

Lunch formule : €14.50

L’Epicerie du Cloître – bistrot

22 Rue du Cloître, 13200 Arles

Tel : [phone].

Main courses around €14.

Le Gibolin - Creative cuisine

13 Rue des Porcelets, 13200 Arles

Tel: [phone].

Menu from €28.

L'Autruche - modern and creative cuisine

5 Rue Dulau, 13200 Arles

Tel : [phone].

Formule from €22.

Lou Marques - creative and refined cuisine

9 Boulevard des Lices, 13200 Arles

Website - Tel : [phone].

Formule at €35. Menu from €59.

Bistrot À côté - fresh local products

21 rue des Carmes, 13200 Arles

Website - tel : [phone].

Menu €32.

L’Atelier - Gourmet cuisine

7 rue des Carmes, 13200 Arles

Website - tel : [phone]

Lunch menu €55. Dinner menu from €95.

---

Arles-Amphiteatre3

Amphitheater

The amphitheater is the most important and best-preserved Roman monument of the ancient Roman colony. Its architecture is fully designed in relation to its role as a place for grand entertainment, hosting a large audience.

---

Amphitheater

Rond point des Arènes, 13200 Arles

Website -  tel: [phone].

Full price/ reduced price: €9/ €7.

Free for children under 18 years old (rates include entrance to the Roman Theater)

Open daily.

November through February: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ;

March, April and October: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ;

May through September. : 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

With a length of 136 meters and a width of 107 meters, the elliptical amphitheater of Arles is slightly larger than that of Nîmes. The facade has two levels featuring sixty arcades. The cavea, space reserved for spectators, included 34 steps, divided into four parts where spectators were placed according to their social rank. Gladiators and animals waited to enter the arena, facing the crowd in the basement, under a covered hatch in the floor. The stands could hold about 21,000 spectators, whose movement was carefully organized by a network of gates, galleries and staircases.

During the Middle Ages the amphiteater’s defense system was strengthened by four towers, three of which are still visible today. They offer a nice view of the rooftops of the city. The interior and exterior of the amphitheater then became a real town, complete with streets, squares and churches. Two churches and 212 houses were located there. It wasn’t until the 19th century that the houses were destroyed and that the restoration of the Roman site begun. The amphitheater regained its original function, particularly with bullfighting, and is often called the Arena.

---

Arles-Theatre Antique4

Roman Theater of Arles

Unlike most Roman theaters, this one was not built into a hill, but built entirely on its summit. Though today the theater is much less well preserved than the neighboring amphitheater, it retains an undeniable charm.

---

Roman Theater

Rue du cloître, 13200 Arles

Tel : [phone].

Full price/ reduced price: €9/ €7.

Free for children under 18 years old (rates include entrance to the Amphitheater)

Open daily.

November through February: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ;

March, April and October : 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ;

May through September: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Roman Theater is located between the amphitheater and the Jardin d’Eté (summer garden). In the late 40s BC, shortly after the founding of the Roman colony, a monumental program was initiated for the development of large public spaces and the construction of three major buildings: the forum, the arc of the Rhône and theater. The theater was completed around the year 12 BC. It served as the stage for many shows, tragedies, comedies, mime shows, which the public attended for free.

Fortified in the Middle Ages, it was used as a quarry and then completely covered with houses. The Roman Theater of Arles is 102 meters in diameter. Its outer wall was composed of three floors of 27 arches supported on pillars. It could accommodate 10,000 spectators spread over 33 stands. Only a few elements remain: some steps, the orchestra, the stage curtain pit and two high marble columns. The pulpitum wall separated the orchestra and the stage. It was adorned with decorated niches, including the altar of Apollo, found in 1828. The stage wall consisted of three rows of columns and numerous statues, including that of the Emperor Augustus that now resides in the Museum of Ancient Arles. The famous statue Venus of Arles is housed at the Louvre. The Royal Door stood in the middle of the wall, and was bordered on each side by columns, still visible today. Like for the amphitheater, it was cleared of the buildings that occupied the site in the 19th century.

---

Arles-ThermesdeConstantin

Thermes de Constantin

The Baths of Constantine, formerly called the Baths of the Trouille, were built along the Rhone River in the early 4th century. Their renovation dates back to the late 19th century.

---

Thermes de Constantin

Rue du Grand-Prieuré, 13200 Arles

Tel : [phone].

Full price/ reduced price: €4/ €3.20

Open daily.

November through February: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.;

March, April and October : 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.;

May through September: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The success of the Baths of Constantine is due, in large part, to the invention of hypocausts (underground heaters), which circulated hot air under the floor, suspended by bricks (the suspensura). The air was then evacuated by vertical shafts. The good current condition of the hypocausts clearly shows the mechanism of heating swimming pools with air circulation. Large foyers warmed the main hot room (caldarium). This room was connected to the warm room (tepidarium). The tour begins with this room, before entering the hot room. The only rooms that are open for visit are located in the northern part of the baths.

---

The story... of the baths

Important place for urban life in Roman times, the baths assured personal hygiene for the population of the city. Every afternoon everyone – women first, then men – observed the rite of dry sweating. They then moved onto the hot bath where the skin was sprayed with hot water and then scrubbed with a strigile, a kind of small scraper, passing next into the warm room and the cold pool. It ended with a vigorous massage. In addition to their hygienic function, the baths also had a strong social role and were a popular meeting place. The entrance was free or inexpensive, and visitors could exercise in the palaestra (training hall), see shows or visit the library.

---

Arles-Alyscamps1

The Alyscamps and the Eglise Saint Honorat

Along with the Alyscamps, the city had five cemeteries. Two of them, the Alyscamps and Trinquetaille owed their fame from the late 4th century onward to the martyrdom of Genest, an Arlesian saint. As the reputation of the place became more and more prestigious, many people wanted to be buried there, in particular the bishops of Arles. Saint Honorat was the bishop of Arles between 426 and 429, whose name was given to the church at its reconstruction in the 12th century. At that time, the cemetery had also become the starting point in Arles of the Pilgrimage Route of  Saint Jacques de Compostela. This tradition of burial at the Alyscamps would continue until medieval times.

---

The Alyscamps and Eglise Saint Honorat

Avenue des Alyscamps, 13200 Arles

Tel : [phone].

Full price / reduced price: €4.50 / €3.60. Free for children under 18 years old.

Open daily.

November through February: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ;

March, April and October : 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ;

May through September: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

---

The Alyscamps

During Antiquity, the world of the dead was separated from the world of the living, and so the cemeteries were outside the city walls as burials were forbidden inside. Under the influence, among others, of Christianity in the first centuries AD, the habit of burying the bodies in coffins or sarcophagi gradually replaced incineration, which disappeared during the 3rd century.

The cemetery exudes a mysterious atmosphere imbued with a certain charm. A path runs along the sarcophagi, then widens to a driveway, leading to the remains of the early Christian necropolis outside the church of the Saint-Honorat abbey. In the Middle Ages, this site included many vaults (nearly a thousand), chapels and mortuary monuments. The few vestiges that remain of these constructions are kept at the Museum of Ancient Arles. The most beautiful pieces and sculptures were looted, or offered by local lords to their visitors.

---

The Eglise Saint Honorat

The history of the Church of Saint-Honorat is still not fully known. Most of the church that is still visible today was built in the 12th century, at which time the building was abandoned for lack of funds. The church was supposed to feature a nave with aisles of five bays; only one, to the east, was built. The cross is covered with a dome surmounted by a beautiful octagonal tower, whose two floors are complimented by antique Roman-inspired décor.

---

Arles-PlacedelaRepublique

Place de la République

The Place de la République is the center of the city of Arles. The several buildings that surround it can, alone, retrace the history of the city. The cryptoportiques located under the square date back to antiquity, just like the obelisk at the center of the square. There are also the church and the cloister of Saint Trophime from the 12th century. The Hôtel de Ville was built in the 17th century.

---

Obelisk

Place de la République, 13200 Arles

Solar and imperial symbol in Antiquity, the obelisk is made of granite. It measures, with its pedestal, twenty meters. The obelisk comes from the spina (central wall around which the track runs) of the Roman circus. It was installed in the 4th century. Just like the circus, the obelisk was abandoned from the 6th century onward, and collapsed. At its rediscovery it was placed on the Place Royale, in front of the new city hall, which the consuls chose to erect for the greatest glory of Louis XIV. The royal symbol, a bronze globe surmounted by a sun, was added. Other changes were made over the course of the following centuries.

---

Eglise Saint Trophime

Place de la République, 13200 Arles

Free admission.

Open daily.

Closed between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. and during services.

Most of the church that stands today dates from the 12th century, and it remains one of the major examples of Romanesque art in Provence. The front of the church, originally sober, was adorned with a doorway in 1180, a true masterpiece kept in exceptional condition. The doorway takes the form of a triumphal arch. It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful Romanesque doorways in France. Its decor, exceptionally rich, represents the Last Judgment with a symbol of Christ surrounded by the four evangelists at the center of the tympanum. Among the statues of Saints, the third from the left is Saint Trophime. Three major topics are covered on the portal: the assembly of the patron saints, the divine and human epics, and the original sin and its future fate for the elected and the damned. The composition culminates with the solemn and triumphant image of Christ. Inside, the Gothic choir replaced the Romanesque apses in the 15th century.

---

Cloître Saint Trophime

Place de la République, 13200 Arles

Tel : [phone].

Full price/ reduced price: €5.50/ €4.50

Free for children under 18 years old.

Open daily.

November through February: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ;

March, April and October : 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ;

May through September: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Saint Trophime cloister is at the center of the canonical buildings of the Episcopal city. It was added to the complex in the 12th century. The first two Romanesque galleries feature carvings of exceptional quality, real jewels of the Romanesque art in Provence. The building would be completed in the 14th century by two Gothic galleries. The center of the Saint Trophime cloister consists of an old cemetery, which later became a garden. And thus the construction of the cloister completed the rebuilding of the cathedral complex.

The structure of the cloister and its rooms

The canonical buildings are composed of a vast refectory located along the cathedral, a chapter room hidden behind its magnificent facade and an arched dormitory, which forms the third side. The canons then undertook the connection of these buildings with the galleries of the cloister.

Romanesque galleries

The décor of the Romanesque galleries (north and east) is extremely rich. Two themes are reflected in the north gallery: the Paschal mystery and the elation of the patron saints of the church of Arles. Along the gallery, the evocation of the Passion is depicted on the pillars, and the capitals recite of the life of Christ. On the intermediate and corner pillars, the exquisite statues also recount the life of Christ, the great Saints of the Church and the local patrons saints, in particular Saint Trophime. The capital iconography unfolds around the themes of the Old and New Testament.

Gothic galleries

The last two galleries (south and west), vaulted on intersecting ribs, were not constructed until the late 14th century. The sculptural decoration of the capitals illustrates the life of Saint Trophime. The iconography of the west gallery is less consistent than in other galleries. Biblical passages mingle with more local Arlesian themes.

---

Hôtel de Ville

Place de la République, 13200 Arles

Website - Tel: [phone].

With its beautiful classical architecture, the Hôtel de Ville (city hall) benefitted from a particularly prosperous and opulent period of history of the city. Built in 1676 in the heart of the city as a symbol of power and splendor, the Hôtel de Ville completes the magisterial view of the Place de la République. Three levels high, the first floor has an imposing central setting where double columns frame glass door that opens onto a balcony. The second floor is dominated by a central pediment, which features the image of a sun, symbol of Louis XIV.

Inside

Arles-Vestibule Mairie

The building is particularly remarkable for the richness of its decoration and the arch cradles of the hall, a significant technical challenge at the time. It is open to the public during the day. The cryptoportiques are also accessible from inside.

---

The Cryptoportiques

Place de la République, 13200 Arles

Tel : [phone].

Full price / reduced price: €4.50 / €3.60

Open daily.

November through February: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ;

March, April and October : 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ;

May through September: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Accessible via the lobby of the Hôtel de Ville.

The cryptoportiques served as a large basement supporting the floor slabs of the forum, the central public square of the city during antiquity. Because of its many transformations, the history of the monument has long remained an enigma.

The galleries are presented in a U shape. The north and south galleries measure 90 meters long ; the connecting west gallery measures 60 meters long. Their width is almost 10 meters. Each branch is made up of a double-arched gallery, falling on a series of arches that rest on pillars. This structure represents an admirable work. The galleries were lit and ventilated.

Visitors can see the prison cells by the vents. They were only accessible by two service entrances, and only municipal employees had access. In the early 5th century, the cryptoportiques were partitioned to serve as individual cellars. Access to the cryptoportiques, which had been looted and parceled, would be completely closed in the 10th century.

---

Arles-VanGogh

To Do and to See (non classified sites)

Beyond the exceptional historic heritage that qualifies Arles as a World Heritage site, other discoveries, though unrelated to this classification, deserve special attention. This is the case of Vincent Van Gogh, the painter who lived here and was inspired by the colors and light of the city and its surroundings. In addition, the Jardin Hortus allows young people to learn about ancient games. 

---

Van Gogh and Arles

In February 1888 Van Gogh arrived in Arles and remained there until May 1889. His stay in the city would be the painter’s most productive period, during which he produced about 300 drawings and paintings. In the city, the places where the artist set up his easel are marked with signs and a rendering of each of his paintings. Ten places are referenced:

• Place du Forum : café La Nuit (Café Terrace at Night)

• Trinquetaille Bridge : L’escalier du pont de Trinquetaille (The Trinquetaille Bridge)

• Quai du Rhone : La nuit etoilée (Starry Night)

• Place Lamartine : La maison jaune (The Yellow House)

• Mireille Street : Vieux moulin (The Old Mill)

• Garden of the Boulevard des Lices : Jardin public (The Public Garden)

• Espace Van Gogh : jardin de la maison de santé (Garden of the Hospital in Arles)

• Route along the Canal d’Arles to Bouc : Pont de Langlois aux lavandières, more commonly known as Pont Van Gogh (The Langlois Bridge at Arles)

• The Arena and Alyscamps were also immortalized in many paintings.

To learn more about the man who cut off his own ear :

• The Van Gogh walking tour

A marked pedestrian route that allows visitors to go at their own pace. Discover places that inspired the artist and that are immortalized through in his works. More information available at the Tourist Office.

• Van Gogh Foundation

35 Rue du Docteur Fanton, 13200 Arles

Website - Tel: [phone].

Full price / Reduced price : €9 / €7. Family Pass: €15. Free for those under 12 years old.

Open every day : 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Closed on Mondays in winter.

The Foundation meets in a workshop of contemporary artists who pay homage to Van Gogh.

---

Jardin Hortus (for children)

Located right next to the Musée d’Arles Antique. 13200 Arles

Website - Tel: [phone].

Free admission. Open daily excepted on Tuesday.

April through September: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. ;

October through March: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

This Roman-inspired garden features play areas based on ancient models, thematic spaces, and relaxation and rest areas. Visitors can play by Roman rules, competing in strategy and skill in chess games, ball games, hopscotch or jacks.

Game Kit : includes rules and game pieces for the games offered in the garden. Available for free at the museum reception desk.

---

Arles-AbbayedeMontMajour

Abbaye de Montmajour

Abbey of Montmajour represents an outstanding architectural ensemble that showcases eight centuries of monastic life. The abbey has a building from the 10th century, and a church and a Romanesque cloister from the 12th century, built by Benedictine monks. Montmajour was enlarged in the 18th century with a second monastery, the Saint-Maur building.

---

Abbaye de Montmajour

Route de Fontvieille (2 km from the city), 13200 Arles

Website - tel : [phone].

Full price / reduced price: €6 / €5. Free for EU citizens under 26 years old (under 18 years old for non-EU citizens).

Open daily.  

June through September: 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ;

October through May: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed on Mondays from October to March).

For children: a booklet with explanations and games for following the tour of the abbey is available at the reception desk.

---

History

Originally, the abbey of Saint-Pierre was founded by Benedictine monks on the Mont Majour (the big mountain) in 948. They later built the monastery of Saint Peter (which remains well preserved) between the 10th and 15th century, as well as the Romanesque Saint-Pierre hermitage (from the 10th and 11th centuries), which is closed to visitors for security reasons. The rupestrian necropolis was installed on the summit of the hill and around the Sainte-Croix mortuary chapel from the 12th century.

---

Visit

The visit begins with the beautiful crypt that supports the high church, or abbey. Its impressive volumes are made solemn by the use of stone. The visit then continues to the cloister. The heart of monastic life, the abbey is characteristic of Romanesque buildings of the mid-12th century. The cloister, restored in 1872, leads to the convent buildings: chapter house, refectory, cellar, library, kitchens ... The Pons de l'Orme Tower overlooks the cloister buildings. The top of the tower features a magnificent view of the valley.

The second architectural ensemble consists of the monastery of Saint-Maur, built during the first half of the 18th century. It became the residence of the reformed Benedictine community of Saint-Maur (closed to the public). In 1791, the building was sold and transformed into a stone quarry. The buildings, partially destroyed, were saved by the city of Arles, which repurchased the site in 1838 and undertook its restoration.

---

Avignon - Centre Historique

AVIGNON - HISTORIC CENTER  3 coeurs

Visit time : 1 day.

Avignon is immediately associated with its bridge, known worldwide thanks to the now famous song. But Avignon is also, of course, bathed in history from its reign as capital of the papacy in the 14th century. This glorious period of its past provides visitors an exceptionally rich environment. Avignon also hosts an annual world-renown theater festival. Avignon is all of this, and much more. A bustling and lively city, Avignon is best enjoyed by walking in the heart of the city, absorbing its unique atmosphere and following in the footsteps of its history, religion and culture.

---

Maps

Offline Map from the Tourist Office of Avignon. To download first.

Online interactive Map with all addresses and locations. Street View. On the website, at the bottom of page.

---

World Heritage

Carte Avignon

Classidied area listed as a World Heritage Site of Humanity by Unesco in 1995.

Avignon, capital of Christianity in the Middle Ages, has retained much of its historic center dating from this period. In particular: the Papal Palace, the Notre Dame des Doms Cathedral, the garden of the Rocher des Doms, the Petit Palais, the Tour du Châtelet and the Tours des Chiens, the ramparts between the two, and the famous Pont Saint Benezet. This monumental ensemble was classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1995 as medieval religious, administrative and military architecture, which played a key role in the development and dissemination of a particular form of culture across a wide area in Europe, at a time of great importance for the development of lasting relationships between the papacy and civil power.

Criteria for selection

Criteron (i) : The Papal Palace is a unique artistic monument and a masterpiece of creative genius.

Criterion (ii) : The patronage of Pope Clement VI made Avignon an artistic capital whose influence radiated throughout Europe, thanks to the presence of a cosmopolitan group of painters and decorators led by Matteo Giovanetti.

Criterion (iv) : The architecture and interior design of the Papal Palace is a unique example of a 14th century palace-fortress. Due to the technological evolution that it represents, the Pont Saint Benezet is one of the most important medieval bridges in Europe.

Source : UNESCO / ICOMOS.

---

History

How did Avignon take Rome’s place as the capital of the papacy? In 1309, the Frenchman Bertrand de Got, who was elected and crowned supreme pontiff in 1305, refused to go to Rome and decided to settle in a Dominican convent in Avignon under the name of Clement V. And thus began the great century of the popes in Avignon. Seven popes served from this site until the election of Martin V in 1417, who restored the seat of the papacy in Rome. Clement V’s successor, John XXII, settled in the palace of the former bishop, which he transformed into a Papal Palace on the Rocher des Doms. In turn, his successor, Benedict Xll, gradually destroyed the building and replaced it by what is now called the Palais Vieux (Old Palace). Finally, after Benedict XII, construction was finished under Clement VI.

After the departure of the popes, the city would remain the residence of the Italian Papal legates (representatives of the Pope) for nearly four centuries, until they were expelled during the Revolution by the people of Avignon, who had decided to join France. Today, Avignon has become a vibrant center for arts and culture, and is home to a prestigious contemporary theater festival.

---

Tourist Office

Avignon Tourist Office

41 Cours Jean Jaurès , 84000 Avignon

Website - tel : [phone].

Open daily.

April through October, Monday to Saturday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday and holidays: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

July and August, open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

November through March, Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Accommodation available for visitors with disabilities.

Numerous thematic tours offered by the Tourist Office in French. To visit the city differently, you can opt for the visit by carriage, Segway, bicycle, tuk-tuk.

Tour in English

Avignon on a summer evening (1 hour 30 minutes, in English)

Full price/ reduced price: €9/ €5.50. Free for children under 8 years old.

Departure from the Tourist Office at 5:45 p.m.

---

Tips for visiting the monuments

The flyer Avignon Passion is issued free of charge upon request at the Tourist Office. The pass holder and accompanying family members (or up to 5 people total) can benefit discounts in all the monuments and museums. How the flyer works: visitors pay full price on their first visit, then benefit discounts on all monument visits thereafter.

---

Museums

The Petit Palais

Place du Palais des Papes, 84000 Avignon

Website - tel: [phone].

Full price: €6 / reduced price : €3. Free for those under 12 years old.

Open daily: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. / 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays.

Themed events, conferences, temporary exhibitions. On site: book store, boutique and tea room.

The museum is housed in an elegant building dating back to 1317, and was originally built around a cloister. The museum presents the Campana collection, which includes a unique collection of 300 Italian paintings from the 13th to the 15th century, as well as medieval sculptures. These works provide an understanding of artistic creation in Italy during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Of particular note is the exhibition The Virgin and Child by Sandro Botticelli. Three other rooms are dedicated to the works of Avignon painters ans sculptors, who developed a style that incorporated Italian and Flemish influences.

---

Musée Calvet

65 Rue Joseph Vernet, 84000 Avignon

Website - Tel: [phone].

Free entrance.

Open every day excepted on Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m./ 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Audio guide in French or English.

The building and the collection together form one of the most poetic and historically charged places in Avignon.

The Ecole d'Avignon is celebrated there, with a panorama of Avignon's artistic creation from the Renaissance to the Revolution.  Paintings, sculptures and works of art from the 16th and 17th centuries are honoured.

In addition to artists from the Ecole d'Avignon, the museum also offers a collection of paintings and sculptures from the 15th to the 20th century, enriched by an Egyptian collection.

---

Musée Angladon

5 Rue Laboureur, 84000 Avignon

Website - Tel: [phone].

Full price/ reduced price: €8/ €6.50. Free for children under 4 years old.

Open every day excepted on Monday: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

In a former private mansion, the museum presents masterpieces by Degas, Cézanne, Sisley, Picasso, Modigliani, Van Gogh... from the collections of the couturier Jacques Doucet. According to the donors' wishes, the rest of the residence has retained the charm of an interior of art lovers with many paintings, stamped furniture and works of art: 17th and 18th century lounge, Renaissance room, artists' studio, Far East cabinet.

For children: A multimedia application is available for children aged 4-11 years old, allowing them to discover the place as a treasure hunt. The tablets are provided at the reception desk with explanations of use.

---

Palais du Roure, Provençal culture centre

3 Rue Collège de Roure, 84000 Avignon

Tel: [phone].

Free entrance.

Guided tour in French and English from Tuesday to Saturday at 11 a.m. Full price/ reduced price: €5/ €3.

Open from Tuesday to Saturday: 10 a.m. to -1 p.m. / 2 p.m. to  6 p.m.

Museum of Mediterranean culture, more specifically dedicated to Provence, its history, traditions, language and literature. Important collection of bells.

This site bears witness to the history of a large Avignon family and to an architecture that has been constantly remodelled since the 15th century. For five centuries, from 1469 to 1908, the Baroncelli family, originally from Florence (Italy), occupied the Gothic residence, which was transformed in the 17th century into a private mansion. In the 19th century, Frederic Mistral gave it the name Palais du Roure.

---

Lambert Collection

5 Rue Violette, 84000 Avignon

Website - Tel: [phone].

Full price/ reduced price: €10/ €8. 6-12 years old: €2. Free - 6 years old.

Open every day except Monday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Permanent and temporary exhibitions.

The Lambert Collection was created in 2000 by Yvon Lambert who wanted to present his personal collection of contemporary art to the public. It reflects the great movements of art of our time: Minimal art, Conceptual art, Land art, paintings from the 80’s, video and photography for the 90's.

Artists include: Cy Twombly, Sol LeWitt, Donald Judd, Niele Toroni, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Anselm Kiefer, Christian Boltanski, Nan Goldin, Douglas Gordon and Jenny Holzer.

---

Events

Cheval Passion (Janvier)

Website - tel: [phone].

Horse show.

The Hivernales (february)

Website - tel: [phone].

Dance festival.

The Avignon Festival (july)

Official Avignon Festival

Website - tel : [phone].

Founded in 1947 by Jean Vilar, the Avignon Festival is now one of the most important international events in contemporary performing arts (theater, dance, visual arts or music). Each year in July, Avignon dons its theater costume, transforming its architectural sites into various venues. Around fifty shows of varying performance styles attract more than 100,000 spectators during the three weeks of the festival. Certain festival shows are also geared toward children and families.

Avignon OFF Festival: AF&C Association

Website - tel : [phone].

In fact, two festivals coexist during this period : the Official Avignon Festival (administered by a board of trustees from local governments and organizations) and the Off Festival, which is run by non-profit organizations such as theater companies. It offers more than 1,000 shows and attracts 650,000 spectators to a hundred places around the city.

Festival Résonance (late July)

A music festival that hosts contemporary concerts at the most famous historical sites. The festival offers a wide range of musical genres: electronic, hip-hop, soul, funk, rock ...

The Luminessences of Avignon (August and September)

Website

Sound and light show with video projection in the heart of the Palais des Papes.

The Ban des Vendanges (late August)

Website 

The Ban des Vendanges, a festival to celebrate the beginning of the grape harvest.

Médiévales des Carmes  (second weekend of September)

This medieval fair takes place at the era-appropriate architectural ensemble. Features dueling knights, medieval crafts, magicians and jugglers, a medieval banquet, troubadours, a tavern, activities and games for children. Free admission and entertainment.

Medieval of the Golden Rose (October 2019, every two years)

Several thousand passionate people bring the Middle Ages back to life: reconstructions, musical strolls, battles, medieval markets, archery tournaments...

This is the largest medieval gathering in the south of France! 70 French troops and 20 foreign troops, representing about 1500 participants.

Christmas Festivities (December)

Numerous activities in the city.

---

The food markets

Main market (covered) : Place Pie (open Tuesday to Friday: 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday: 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

Farmers’ Market (open-air): On monday from April through September. 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. On the car park, boulevard de l'Oulle.

---

Transport

Getting to Avignon

By car

From Marseille: Highway A7, exit Avignon Sud

From Orange and Lyon: Highway A7, exit Avignon Nord

From Nimes and Montpellier: Highway A9, exit Remoulins

From Arles: D570

Nearby classified sites

Orange: 30 km (18.5 mi), time: 30 minutes

Pont du Gard: 27 km (17 mi), time: 30 minutes

Arles: 37 km (23 mi), time: 50 minutes

By bus

Bus Station - PEM Avignon

5 Avenue Monclar, 84000 Avignon

Website - Tel: [phone].

City Buses (TCRA)

1 Avenue de Lattre de Tassigny , 84000 Avignon

Website - tel: [phone].

By Plane

Avignon Caumont Airport (8 kms)

Website - tel: [phone].

Connection to the city by taxi only.

Marseille-Provence Airport (65 kms)

Website - tel: [phone].

Direct connection by train to Avignon city center (14 trains per day). By car : 45 minutes.

Nîmes-Arles-Camargue Airport

Website - tel: [phone]. Shuttles not available.

By train

Gare TGV of Avignon (3.5 km from the city center)

Quartier de la courtine, 84000 Avignon

Website - tel: 36 35.

Direct trains to Paris (2 hours, 40 minutes) and to Lyon (1 hour).

Frequent shuttles to the city center (€1.60).

Gare SNCF Avignon Center

Boulevard Saint-Roch, 84000 Avignon

Website - tel: 36 35.

Regional lines.

---

Getting Around

The city center of Avignon is easily explored on foot, and it is not necessary to drive in the city.

Free parking : Free, secured parking lots, with a complementary shuttle to the city center:

Parking de l’Ile Piot (toward Villeneuve on the other side of the Rhone River). Open 7/7 and 24/24 during summer season.

Parking des Italiens (near the Porte Saint-Lazare). Located on the Avenue des Italians. Open Monday to Saturday: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Transportation Tips

Cycling: Avignon has 135 kilometers of bike paths.

Vélopop

Website- tel : [phone].

Self-service bicycles available 7/7 and 24/24 in terminals across the city.

La Baladine

Website - tel : [phone]. Price: €0,50 per trip.

Hours: Monday to Saturday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. / 2 p.m. to 6p.m.

Small electric vehicle available for rent to visit the city. Stop by a simple sign of the hand.

The mini train

Website - Tel: [phone] or 06 10 32 85 24.

Adult: €9 / children under 12 years old: €6. Free under 5 years old.

Open time:

March through October, every day 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.;

July and August, every day until 8 p.m.;

October through March: Wednesdays and Saturdays only: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Guided tour of the city in 10 languages (40 minutes). Departure and arrival at the Papal Palace every 30 minutes.

The Shuttle Boat (from April through October)

Free river crossing (Rhone), round-trip from the quay (at the foot of the Avignon Bridge) to Barthelasse Island. Visitors may cross with bicycles. Beautiful picnic areas set up along the Rhone. Departures every 15 minutes.

---

Sleeping / Eating

Accommodation

The selected accommodations offer quality services at competitive rates, they are considered as references in their respective categories. The prices shown are for the off season, on the basis of 2 people. Note: during the Festival (July) rates may increase significantly. Inquire beforehand.

B&B La Bastide des Anges

Bastide des Anges petit

Situated on the île de la Barthelasse

1634 chemin des vignes, 84000 Avignon

Website - tel : [phone].

Room from : €105.

Located 5km from the historical center, you will find 5 charming rooms, with swimming pool and secure parking. Homemade breakfasts served in an atmosphere of serenity and a spirit of conviviality. Closed from mid-December through mid-March.

Hôtel de l'Horloge ****

Avignon hotel horloge presentation

Place de l'Horloge, 1 Rue Félicien David, 84000 Avignon

Website - tel: [phone].

Room from €89.

In a fine stone building of the XIXth century, the hotel proposes 66 enjoyable rooms highlighted with warm colours of the region. Certain have terraces offering a panoramic view over the Popes Palace.

---

Avignon hotel horloge pub

---

Eating

The selection of restaurants proposed below consists of restaurants that offer a good price/quality value. These addresses are inside or nearby the classified area. Formule corresponds to a lunch special with a starter and a main course, or a main course and a dessert. The menus usually consist of a starter, a main course and a dessert," for lunch or dinner.

Ginette et Marcel - French fast food

27 Place des corps saints, 84000 Avignon

Tel: [phone]

Sandwiches (french tartines) from €4.

L'ami voyage en compagnie - restaurant and bookstore

5 Rue Prévôt, 84000 Avignon

Tel : [phone]

Main course around €10.

Simple Simon - Restaurant and tea room

26 Rue de la Petite Fusterie, 84000 Avignon

Tel : [phone]

Price from €12.

Naka - Japanese cuisine

4 Place de la Principale, 84000 Avignon

Website - Tel: [phone].

Menu from €13.50.

La Cuisine des Copains - Traditional cuisine

6 Place des Châtaignes, 84000 Avignon

Website - Tel: [phone].

Lunch Formule €14. Menu €29.

Open from Monday to Friday.

Le 46 - local cuisine and wine bar

46 Rue de la Balance, 84000 Avignon

Website - Tél: [phone].

Main course around €18.

Numéro 75 - mediterranean cuisine

75 Rue Guillaume Puy, 84000 Avignon

Website - Tel: [phone].

Lunch menu €32. Dinner menu €38.50.

Les 5 Sens - refined local cuisine

18 Rue Joseph Vernet, 84000 Avignon

Website - Tel: [phone].

Lunch Formule €22. Dinner menu from €39.

L'Epicerie - local cuisine

10 Place Saint Pierre, 84000 Avignon

Tel: [phone].

Lunch formule €15.90.

Hiély-Lucullus - creative cuisine with seasonal products

5 Rue de la République, 84000 Avignon

Website - Tel: [phone].

Lunch menu €35. Dinner menu from €45.

L'Essentiel - local cuisine

2 Rue Petite fusterie, 84000 Avignon

Website - tel: [phone].

Lunch menu €25. Dinner menu from €36.

La Fourchette - refined and creative cuisine

17 Rue Racine, 84000 Avignon

Website - Tel: [phone].

Menu €38.

La Vieille Fontaine - gourmet cuisine

12 Place Crillon, 84000 Avignon

Website - Tel: [phone].

Lunch menu €38. Dinner menu from €46.

Christian Etienne - gourmet cuisine

10 rue de Mons, 84000 Avignon

Website - tel: [phone].

Lunch menu €35. Dinner menu from €85.

---

Avignon-PalaisdesPapes2

Palais des Papes

The largest gothic palace in the world, the Papal Palace embodies the power of the church in Europe during the 14th century.

---

History

Following a dispute between the King of France (Philippe IV, called Philip the Fair) and the Pope at the time (Boniface VIII), the Archbishop of Bordeaux, Bertrand de Got was elected in 1305 to the throne of Saint Pierre under the name of Clement V. He decided to settle in Avignon in 1309. However, he lived there only intermittently. John XXII, who succeeded him, had the palace adapted to the requirements and needs of the papal court. It was thereafter that the amazing history of the palace truly began.

The ancient building was completely destroyed. Built in the same location in 1335, the palace that exists today is mainly the work of two popes, Benedict XII and his successor Clement VI. Benedict XII is responsible for the achievement of an austere, vast and powerful fortress. His successor, considering the first palace unworthy of the majesty of a papal palace, had a second, adjacent one built, called the New Palace, which had elegant and richly decorated Gothic facades. He entrusted the work and interior decoration to Matteo Giovanetti and his team. The exceptional frescoes are still well preserved. After Clement VI, three popes succeeded in these walls (Innocent VI, Urban V and Gregory XI), each adding personal touches to the palace. The last, Gregory, had no other desire than to restore the seat of the Papacy in Rome, which he did in 1376.

At his death in 1378, the Roman population organized violent demonstrations forcing the Cardinals to elect an Italian pope, Urban VI. A few months later, the French cardinals declared the election null and chose Robert of Geneva, who took the name Clement VII. And thus began the Great Schism : Christianity was divided into two denominations. During this period (1378 to 1417), the two unofficial popes lived in the Palace, Clement VII and Benedict XIII, who finally left Avignon in 1403.

After the departure of the popes, Avignon remained the property of the Holy See and the Palace was the residence of the Italian legates until incorporation of the city to the country of France in 1791. The Papal Palace served as barracks until 1906 before being returned to the city. It was then protected and restored throughout the 20th century.

---

Visiting the Palace

Palais des Papes

Place du Palais des Papes, 84000 Avignon

Website - tel : [phone].

Full price / reduced price : €12 / €10. Free for children under 8 years old. 

Combined ticket for the Papal Palace and the Avignon Bridge : €14.50 / €11.50.

Open daily.

November through February: 9:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.;

March through June, September and October: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (6:30 p.m. on March);

July: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.;

August: 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Mandatory checking of strollers, baby available carriers upon request.

Visit with Histopad - New

Included in the entrance fee. Available in 7 languages.

The HistoPad (tactile tablet that is given to each visitor) allows a virtual tour of 9 main rooms of the palace that have been re-imagined thanks to augmented reality in their 14th century decorations.

The HistoPad is also a digital guide for an immersive tour, a geolocation all along the circuit and a fun and