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The southern part of France near Avignon, besides the beautiful lavender that can be visited between late June and early August, offers other wonders. In this post I write about what to see in Provence, while also making a detour to Camargue and Ardeche, which are very close to Avignon. It is possible to use Avignon as a base for all four days.
A car certainly can be convenient for getting to know Avignon and its surroundings. There are, however, recommended tours! Very nice, in particular, the tour that acquaints one with Roman Provence..
Day 1 : Avignon
I am not exaggerating when I say that Avignon is in my opinion one of the most beautiful cities in Europe: it reaches its splendor in July, when there is a beautiful festival of the performing arts (especially theater).
Historically, Avignon is famous for being the seat of papal power for about seventy years during the 14th century: today the Palace of the Popes with its immense Gothic forms reminds us of the wealth of the papacy during that historical period.
The ramparts surrounding the city are about 4 km long and are perfectly preserved.The views of the Rhone and the Pont Saint-Benezet, Avignon’s famous bridge (to which a famous nursery rhyme is also dedicated) built in 1185 and destroyed in half by a flood of the river in the 17th century, are very beautiful.
Avignon is definitely worth a full day of sightseeing: the Jardin des Doms, with its panoramic views of the Pont Saint-Benezet, is part of the must-see in Avignon!
It is possible to take a guided tour of Avignon with Civitatis!
Map of Avignon and surroundings
Here is a map of Avignon and the surrounding area.
Day 2 : from Avignon to the Camargue
From Avignon it takes just over an hour by car to get to the Camargue. Here I visited two authentic natural wonders. The first is the ornithological park of Pont de Gau: here, along 7 km of paths, it is possible to admire many birds typical of the Camargue among which the flamingos stand out (the best months to appreciate the typical pink color are November and December). Near Pont de Gau is the small village of Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, which is well worth a visit and can be used as a base for a lunch or even for sleeping.
The second natural wonder is the Giraud salt pans, the largest in Europe: the colors here seem supernatural.
Continuing for another 10 km, you arrive at the beach at Piemanson: this beach is very beautiful and a favorite among campers. Given the short distances, it is possible to sleep again in Avignon.
The Camargue is a true paradise: it deserves a fuller description in this post!
Day 3 Avignon and surroundings : St. Remy en Provence and Les Baux de Provence
Also in the vicinity of Avignon are two beautiful historic towns in Provence. This tour is also feasible through an excursion from Marseille.
In St. Remy en Provence you can see a very colorful market (Wednesday morning, until 1 p.m., is the best day), the archaeological remains of an ancient Roman town (Glanium, cost eight euros) and especially Van Gogh’s Asylum.
The Dutch painter decided on his own to self-medicate to try to solve his psychological problems. A visit to the Asylum (cost six euros) allows you to see the tiny room where Van Gogh lived, as well as the cloister and gardens of the monastery: definitely worth it!
Only ten kilometers away it is possible to visit one of the most beautiful villages in France: Les Baux. In this quaint village, overlooking the valley of Hell, it is possible to admire a well-kept medieval castle. In July it is also possible to see a beautiful lavender field inside the castle.
In Les Baux, you can also admire les Carrieres des Lumieres: in these ancient quarries there are splendid representations of images reminiscent of Van Gogh and other painters. Double entry for the two sites costs twenty euros: well worth it!
Here is a video demonstrating the beauty of the Carrieres!
Day 4 : Pont du Gard and Mont Ventoux
About half an hour’s drive from Avignon is a Roman jewel, the Pont du Gard. It was built in 19 B.C. and has enormous dimensions: it is 275 meters long and 50 meters high. Even now it can be crossed on foot: a ten-minute walk is enough to fully appreciate its grandeur. It is also a wonderful place to take a little swim: I was expecting colder water!
Also a short distance from Avignon, Mont Ventoux is worth a visit: this bald giant, at 1912 meters, is very distinctive, as its maritime pines give way to a veritable desert at the highest part of the mountain (which is why it is called Bald Mountain). It is an icon, to which the poet Petrarch already paid tribute. To get to Mont Ventoux you can take a scenic road from Carpentras to Bedoin-very beautiful!
A trip to Avignon and its surroundings can be completed with a visit to Orange. This town has Roman origins: its Roman theater and triumphal arch stand out for their beauty. Both monuments are perfectly preserved, even though they date back about 2,000 years: the entrance to the theater costs a little more than ten euros, but it is worth it: moreover, with the same ticket you can visit an interesting museum describing the history of Orange! In Orange I found one of the most peculiar restaurants in all of France: the Soviet CCCP offers typical Eastern European dishes, very good!
Further detour near Avignon : Gorges de l’Ardeche
From Avignon you can continue north to Ardeche: here the beauty is purely natural. In fact, from Vallon Pont D’Arc begins about 30 km of road leading to St. Martin de l’Ardeche: this decidedly winding road offers 12 sille Gorges de l’Ardeche viewpoints. The views are wonderful: it is beautiful to admire the Ardeche River from different angles, including the point where it passes under the Pont d’Arc, a spectacular natural bridge.
On the way back to Avignon you can pass through Viviers, a very quaint little town with its Cathedral and its old town center that looks like a bombshell.
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USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT AVIGNON AND ITS SURROUNDINGS
- When people talk about Provence, they generally talk about lavender. It is safely associated with this trip: in fact, Avignon can be used as a base for many destinations with a lavender theme.
- In Avignon I slept very well at the HO36 hostel, which, however, is currently marked as closed. This city is at its best in July, when it hosts a beautiful cultural event (no shortage of theater performances!).
- The costs of a trip to Provence are significantly higher than in Italy. Eating and sleeping, in general, cost about 50 percent more than what we are used to in our parts.
- A car is highly recommended. Transportation exists but would waste a lot of time.
