PROVENCE - France 2014 - page 958

Baggage Storage: You can usually leave your bags at Centre-Ville train station (see “Ar-
rival in Avignon,” earlier).
Laundry: At La Blanchisseuse, youcandropoffyourlaundryandpickitupthesameday
for about €12 a load (daily 7:00-21:00, a few blocks west of main TI at 24 Rue Lan-
terne, tel. [phone]). The launderette at 66 Place des Corps-Saints, where Rue
Agricol Perdiguier ends, has English instructions and is handy to most hotels (daily
7:00-20:00).
Grocery Store: Carrefour City is central and has long hours (Mon-Sat 7:00-22:00, Sun
9:00-12:00, next to McDonald's, 2 blocks from TI, toward Place de l'Horloge on Rue
de la République).
Bike Rental: You can rent bikes and scooters near the train station at Provence Bike (7
Avenue St.Ruf,tel. [phone], www.provence-bike.com ) .You'll enjoy riding on
the Ile de la Barthelasse, but biking is better in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Vaison la Ro-
maine.
Car Rental: The TGV train station has car-rental agencies (open long hours daily).
Shuttle Boat: A free shuttle boat, the Navette Fluviale, plies back and forth across the
river (as it did in the days when the town had no functioning bridge) from near St.
Bénezet Bridge (3/hour, daily July-Aug 11:00-21:00, Sept-June roughly 10:00-12:30
&14:00-18:00).ItdropsyouonthepeacefulIledelaBarthelasse,withitsrecommen-
ded riverside restaurant, grassy walks, and bike rides with terrific city views. If you
stay on the island for dinner, check the schedule for the last return boat—or be pre-
pared for a taxi ride or a pleasant 25-minute walk back to town.
Commanding City Views: For great views of Avignon and the river, walk or drive across
Daladier Bridge, or ferry across the Rhône on the Navette Fluviale (described above).
I'dtaketheboatacrosstheriver,walktheviewpathtoDaladierBridge,andthencross
back over the bridge (45-minute walk over mostly level ground). You can enjoy other
impressive vistas from the top of the Jardin du Rochers des Doms, from the tower in
the Palace of the Popes, from the end of the famous, broken St. Bénezet Bridge, and
from the entrance to Fort St. André, across the river in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon.
Tours in Avignon
Walking Tours
Onmid-seasonMondaysandSaturdays,theTIoffersinformativeEnglishwalkingtoursof
Avignon, which include a visit to the Palace of the Popes (€19, discounted with Avignon
Passion Pass, April-June and Aug-Oct Mon at 15:00, no tours in July or Nov-March).