Approaching Avignon, one of Provence’s main cities, I felt like a displaced medieval warrior. Though I was in a modern car on an equally modern four-lane road, the only view I had was of 14th-century stone ramparts fully encircling the city, high enough to conceal all but the very tops of the requisite medieval cluster: palace, clock tower and cathedral.
Though the drawbridges have been replaced by paved roads and the moats have been drained, Avignon feels as medieval as you can get without jumping into a time machine.
Avignon is one of Provence’s can’t-miss cities and proximate (within an hour) to other enticing points such as Arles, Châteauneuf du Pape and St-Rémy de Provence.
We decided Avignon would be the first stop on our Provençal tour since it’s a six-hour (!) drive from Paris, our starting point. Lavender-covered, rolling-hilled, sunflower-filled Provence does not make an appearance during this leg.
So, we figured we’d be ready to get out of the car by the time we hit Avignon.
Avignon is most notable for being the seat of papal power in the 14th century. Nothing transforms a sleepy town into a thriving community like a new neighbor, the pope.
Within the walls, Avignon is a quaint, calm city with narrow streets, squares filled with café tables and ancient stone buildings. We stayed for four days (dedicating two of them to exploring the surrounding areas), and could easily have used one more to further appreciate all Avignon has to offer.
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