Avignon – Old Town Private Walking Tour – Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France

EXPERIENCE

At the start of the tour, get a feel of Avignon’s vibrant culture of at its busy hub of activity, the Clock Square. Taking its name from the 15th-century clock tower, the atmospheric square that hosts the July Avignon festival, one of the world’s largest festivals, is an attractive blend between the majestic 19th-century architecture of Opéra Grand Theatre and City Hall and the dynamic ambiance of delightful arcade cafes and restaurants.

Continue to pass by the 14th-century Saint Peter Basilica, Avignon’s most beautiful church, to marvel at its intricate façade in the unique Provencal Gothic style, characterized by ornate details in the shape of flames.

The next destination is the Palace of the Popes, one of the most emblematic icons of the city giving a precious glimpse into the eventful history of the Roman Catholic papacy. The seat of Western Christianity where 9 popes resided during the 14th century is the biggest Gothic palace worldwide, and also the largest medieval fortress in Europe with formidable crenelated walls and towers.

Right next to the palace is the 12th-century Cathedral of Our Lady of Doms. Built in the simplistic Romanesque style, the church whose most prominent feature is a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary atop its looming bell tower creates an interesting contrast to the majestic adjacent fortress.

Proceed to walk through Rhone Gate, one of the most beautiful entrances of Avignon walls which leads you to the beautiful Saint-Bénezet Bridge, resting peacefully on the Rhône River outside the city walls. The 5-kilometer ramparts used to be equipped with moats, drawbridge towers, and iron-studded wooden gates to protect the city from not only armed intrusions but regular floods.

The 12th-century bridge once linking the two banks of the vast Rhône River was a true feat of engineering and one of the most important pilgrimage routes between Italy and Spain in the Middle Ages. Devastated many times by nature and men, only four of its twenty-two arches and the antique tiny Saint-Nicolas Chapel still stand proudly today as a moving testimony to the rich history of Avignon.

At the end of the tour, follow the rock staircase built into the splendid Rock Tower of the walls, ascending to the top of the highest rock in the city, where the well-shading Garden of the Doms stands and overlooks the Rhone plains and Mount Ventoux. Numerous lush trees, exquisite sculptures, fountains, and fish pools frequented by swans and ducks make the breezy green space an ideal spot for pleasant strolls, refreshing breaks in lovely cafes, and savouring breathtaking panoramic views.

HIGHLIGHTS

Get to see the Palace of the Popes, the world’s biggest Gothic palace
Admire the characteristic flaming Gothic style at Saint Peter Basilica
Marvel at the medieval engineering treasure of Saint-Bénezet Bridge
Soak up picture-postcard vistas from the viewpoint of the Garden of the Doms

Browse all Tours, Events, Hotels, Restaurants and Things to do in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur