Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Behind-the-scenes tours in English of the Palace of the Popes are also possible; ask at the
TI.
Tourist Trains
The little train leaves regularly from in front of the Palace of the Popes and offers a
decent overview of the city, including the Jardin du Rochers des Doms and St. Bénezet
Bridge (€7, 2/hour, 40 minutes, mid-March-mid-Oct daily 10:00-18:00, until 19:00 July-
Aug, English commentary).
Guided Excursions
Several minivan tour companies based in Avignon offer transportation to destinations de-
scribed in this chapter, including Pont du Gard, the Luberon, and the Camargue (about
€65-80/personforall-daytours).See“ToursofProvence”on
here
(notethatImagineTours
and guides François Marcou and Daniela Wedel are all based in Avignon).
For a fine overview of the city, combine these two walks. “Welcome to Avignon” covers
the major sights, while “Discovering Avignon's Back Streets” leads you along the lanes
less taken, delving beyond the surface of this historic city.
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Welcome to Avignon
Before starting this walk—which connects the city's top sights—be sure to pick up the
Avignon Passion Pass at the TI, then show it when entering each attraction to receive dis-
counted admission (explained earlier, under “Tourist Information”).
•StartyourtourwheretheRomansdid,onPlacedel'Horloge,infrontofCityHall(Hôtel
de Ville).
Place de l'Horloge
This café square was the town forum during Roman times and the market square through
the Middle Ages. (Restaurants here offer good people-watching, but they also have less
ambience and low-quality meals—you'll find better squares elsewhere to hang your beret
in.) Named for a medieval clock tower mostly hidden behind City Hall (find plaque in
English), this square's present popularity arrived with the trains in 1854. Walk a few steps
to the center of the square, and look down the main drag, Rue de la République. When the
trains came to Avignon, proud city fathers wanted a direct, impressive way to link the new
station to the heart of the city (just like in Paris)—so they plowed over homes to create
