FRANCE - Best of Europe 2014 - page 470

Some cities are served by slower local trains from Centre-Ville Station as well as by faster
TGV trains from the TGV Station; I've listed the most convenient stations for each trip.
From Avignon's Centre-Ville Station to: Arles (roughly hourly, 20 minutes, less fre-
quent in the afternoon), Lyon (10/day, 2 hours, also from TGV Station in 1 hour—see be-
low), Paris' Gare de Lyon (5/day, 3.5 hours), Barcelona, Spain (2/day, 5.75 hours with
changes in Nîmes and Figueres-Vilafant; more frequent but slower with a change in Cer-
bère).
From Avignon's TGV Station to: Nice (20/day, most by TGV, 4 hours, most require
transfer in Marseille), Marseille (10/day, 35 minutes), Lyon (12/day, 1.5 hour, also from
Centre-Ville Station—see above), Paris' Gare de Lyon (9/day direct, 2.5 hours; more con-
nections with transfer, 3-4 hours), Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport (7/day, 3 hours).
By Bus
The bus station (gare routière) is just past and below Hôtel Ibis, to the right as you exit the
train station. Nearly all buses leave from this station (a few leave from the ring road outside
the station—ask, buy tickets on bus, small bills only). Service is reduced or nonexistent on
Sundays and holidays. Check your departure time beforehand, and make sure to verify your
destination with the driver.
From Avignon to Pont du Gard: Buses go to this famous old aqueduct (3/day, 50
minutes, departs from bus station, usually from stall #11, also from TGV Station); I'd also
consider a taxi one-way and bus back.
From Avignon to Arles: (10/day, 1 hour, leaves from TGV Station).
Pont du Gard
Throughout the ancient world, aqueducts were like flags of stone that heralded the greatness
of Rome. A visit to this sight still works to proclaim the wonders of that age. This perfectly
preserved Roman aqueduct was built in about 19 B.C . as the critical link of a 30-mile canal
that, by dropping one inch for every 350 feet, supplied nine million gallons of water per day
(about 100 gallons per second) to Nîmes—one of ancient Europe's largest cities. Though
most of the aqueduct is on or below the ground, at Pont du Gard it spans a canyon on a
massive bridge—one of the most remarkable surviving Roman ruins anywhere. Wear sturdy
shoes if you want to climb around the aqueduct (footing is tricky), and bring swimwear and
flip-flops if you plan to backstroke with views of the monument.