French Road Trip 2024 Day 10 (11th October) From Les Arcs to Nimes with a visit to Avignon 230km
Time to start heading even closer to home (Benidorm) and nothing really exciting along the way this time, no unexpected Medieval towns, just a couple of coffee stops as we head towards a visit to Avignon and our overnight stop just outside Nimes.
Avignon - A city in Southeastern France located on the left bank of the Rhône River, and is known for its rich history, well-preserved architecture, and vibrant cultural life.
The historic center is enclosed by well-preserved medieval ramparts. These walls were built in the 14th century to protect the city during the time when it served as the seat of the papacy, Avignon is often referred to as the "City of the Popes." as seven popes ruled from here for nearly a century.
We were able to find a very handy car park, which gave us direct access to the cities main square. The Palais des Papes Square a vast cobblestone square, which was a lively place and even though we are in France an Italian market was taking place, giving it a lovely atmosphere.
The square seemed to be the starting/ending point for the cities sight seeing train, but there was a massive queue and people were packed in like sardines, so we decided to just have a wander around on our own.
There were plenty of cafes and restaurants surrounding the square as well as some magnificent historical buildings, the most impressive being the Palais de Papes.
French Road Trip 2024 Day 10
The Palais de Papes (Palace of the Popes) is a massive Gothic structure and was the residence of the popes during their exile from Rome between 1309 and 1377. It’s one of the largest and most significant medieval Gothic buildings in Europe, and was listed in 1995 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Palace was built in two main phases with two distinctive segments, known as the Palais Vieux (Old Palace) of Benedict XII and the Palais Neuf (New Palace) of Clement VI.
Next to the Palais is Avignon Cathedral Cathédrale Notre-Dame des Doms, (Avignon Cathedral).
Built in the 12th century, the cathedral showcases classic Romanesque architecture with its robust walls, rounded arches, and simple yet imposing design.
Over time, additional features, such as the Baroque-style chapels, were added, reflecting changing architectural tastes.
As the seat of the papacy during the 14th century, the cathedral houses the tombs of popes such as Pope John XXII.
One of the most iconic features is the gilded statue of the Virgin Mary atop the bell tower, added in the 19th century. It gleams brightly and is visible from afar, serving as a symbol of Avignon.
Also in the square is the Musée du Petit Palais, which was a former archbishop's residence and built in the 14th century, and is renowned for its exceptional collection of medieval and Renaissance art.
Hôtel des Monnaies was another notable building on the square, this Baroque-style structure was once the mint for papal currency and now serves as a music conservatory.
Just a short walk from the Palais de Papes is the Place de l’Horloge, another busy area of the city. The square’s name, means "Clock Square," comes from the clock tower here which is one of the central landmarks.
Hôtel de Ville (City Hall): - The 19th-century City Hall is another of the square’s most prominent structures. It features a beautiful façade and houses the iconic clock tower, complete with a carillon and mechanical figures known as "jacquemarts," which strike the hours.
Next to the city hall was the Opéra-Théâtre d’Avignon, a 19th-century opera house, a stunning building with ornate neoclassical architecture that hosts a variety of performances, including opera, theater, and concerts.
What we loved here was the 19th Century carousel, this charming and nostalgic attraction added a whimsical touch to the square.
Known as the "Manège d'Avignon". The carousel features intricate, vintage designs, it is richly decorated with painted panels, mirrors, and golden accents, making it an ornate and eye-catching centerpiece.
This square is surrounded by lively cafés and restaurants, shops and boutiques offering souvenirs, crafts, and local goods
Walking into quieter the area of Avignon old town, you are surrounded by narrow, cobbles streets, cafes and traditional Provencal buildings.
In this old town area we came across The Basilica of Saint-Pierre, another stunning example of Gothic architecture and an important historical and religious site in the city.
The church was originally founded in the 7th century but was rebuilt in the 14th century during the time of the Avignon papacy. It was further enhanced in the 15th century.
Basilica Status: It was elevated to the rank of a minor basilica in the 19th century, signifying its importance within the Catholic Church.
French Road Trip 2024 Day 10
One of the main things that Avignon is famous for is the Pont Saint-Bénézet (Avignon Bridge)- Famous for the song "Sur le Pont d'Avignon," this iconic medieval bridge built in the 12th century originally spanned the entire 900m over the Rhône River, but due to damage from flooding over the centuries today, only four of its original 22 arches remain along with the Chapel of Saint Nicholas.
This was a very busy area, and there is a small museum at the site, the entrance fee was 5€ not a lot, but after doing a lot of walking we did not feel it would be worth the extra effort and there was a massive queue for tickets.
Avignon - The bridge to nowhere....
One of the other places we we wanted to visit was the Parc Rocher des Doms, which is perched on a rocky hill above the Palais des Papes. The park features beautifully landscaped gardens with Mediterranean plants, flowers, and shaded trees, charming statues and fountains and a small pond with ducks and swans
luckily before walking up dozens of steep steps to the entrance a local passer-by informed us that it was closed, but we did find this lovely small church along the way, sadly we can find no information on it.
Avignon is a wonderful place to visit and we only explored a small area, there would be many more wonderful places to see here, but it was now time to continue our journey to Nimes and our overnight accommodation.
The drive provided us with some lovely scenery of local vineyards with acres of vines along the way.
Although we have driven miles in Provence we have been surprised at the lack of Lavender fields, we knew it would not be lavender season but did expect to see more than 2 lavender fields along the way.
We arrived in Nimes quite late so did not get time to explore this city, it will be on the list for another road trip.
Road Trip 2024 - Night 10 (11th October) Accommodation La cigale et la fourmi, Nimes. 57.96, including city tax and FREE parking.
We had booked a double room with bathroom and were pleasantly surprised to be given the king room, which had a large double bed and a single bed. The private bathroom was spacious and we had access to a kitchen and bar area with free coffee making facilities.
We even had access to our on small private terrace which even had a BBQ.
The owner and his family lived upstairs and were very friendly, but gave us our privacy, this would be a lovely place to stay in the summer as it also had a pool and garden area.
Parking was provided outside the property but we were given access codes to the gate.
We would definitely consider staying here again if in the area.
Tomorrow we will be spending our last day in France.