Avignon, the surroundings and Chateauneuf du Pape
Named the City of the Popes, Avignon retains the indelible mark of the Popes’ stay in the city in the 14th century, which was for a while the capital of the medieval western world. Today, it is a prestigious cultural capital known for its world-renowned Theatre Festival. A city of art, culture, theatre, cinema, museums, larger stores and small independent retailers, Avignon is a small city that can rival the amenities and attractions of many larger places.
Typified by medieval streets and houses and private mansions dating from the renaissance period, passing through its old and enticing squares, some no bigger than a tiny lane, you could be easily seduced by a stroll in town.
The diverse dining opportunities range from family-run good and inexpensive restaurants, to some of the finest dining in the region, many with Michelin-starred chefs, the city offers great options for a meal break.
Suggested sights to see whilst strolling in town:
- The Popes' Palace and the Saint Bénézet Bridge, both listed as UNESCO world heritage sites
- The Rocher des Doms with its garden and the Cathedral overlooking the town
- The Place de l'Horloge square with the city hall and the opera building
- The maze of ancient streets in the central district, to enjoy cultural monuments and shopping
- A tour of the intact ramparts which surround the whole historical town centre
- Museums: contemporary art of the Lambert Collection, paintings at Musée Angladon and Petit Palais, fine arts at Musée Calvet, archaeology at Musée Lapidaire and furnishings and decorative arts at Musée Louis Vouland
Within a 30 min drive of Avignon, YourChauffeur could take you to or drive through attractive places such as Villeneuve-lez-Avignon, Barbentane, Chateauneuf de Gadagne or Boulbon, to mention just a few. Possibly the best combination is enter into another world at the village of Chateauneuf-du-Pape which spreads out from the foot of the remains of its fortified castle. The village looks over the plain and the 3,000 hectares of vine fields and is almost completely dedicated to its world famous wine "Chateauneuf du Pape", one of the world's best known appellations.
Your driver will take you to the top of the village, stopping at the ruins of the castle from here you can a enjoy a rustic walk through small streets, possibly stopping for wine tastings in cellar shops, or even better is to visit the wineries and their beautiful estates themselves, each peppered by the famous pebbles of the soil which enable the unique conditions for the production of the Chateauneuf du Pape wine.
Allow YourChauffeur to organize your program including an appropriate place for lunch, be it a gourmet treat or a lighter meal in a traditional restaurant or bistro, according to your wishes and expectations, please rely on our expertise and our knowledge of the region and the best places worth visiting.
Some suggested links you may want to peruse in advance to inform your choices:
- Fine art angladon.com/
- Popes Palace and Saint Benezet palais-des-papes.com/en
- Festival Avignon festival-avignon.com/en/
- Château la Nerthe chateaulanerthe.com/
- Caves Saint Charles cave-saint-charles.fr/
- Domaine de Beaurenard beaurenard.fr/indexgb.htm
- Cave du Verger des Papes and its great restaurant overlooking the village caveduverger.com/visiter-la-cave.html
- Domaine Mousset at Chateau des Fines Roches and its restaurant with terrace and great view domainesmousset.com/en/ and chateaufinesroches.com/en/restaurant-chateauneuf-du-pape
