Best Tours in Avignon, France

Located on the east bank of the Rhone River in the southeast of France, Avignon is the capital of the Vaucluse department in the Provence–Alpes–Côte d'Azur region.

The city is most famous for being the capital of the papacy for almost the whole 14th century. However, not many are aware of the fact that Avignon was the actual papal property up until the French Revolution.

It's worth mentioning that quite a few sights in Avignon, France, are listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. Don't miss them while going on Avignon sightseeing tours.

The first place to put on your Avignon itinerary is the Palais des Papes, which is considered to be one of the largest and most important Gothic buildings in Europe. This exact place was the seat of Western Christianity in the 14th century when Avignon was the capital of Christendom.

Pont d'Avignon (or Pont Saint-Bénézet), originally built in the 12th century and later ruined and rebuilt a few times, is another landmark worth visiting during your Avignon tour. Unfortunately, only four out of the initial 22 arches survived the catastrophic flood in 1669.

Also, visit the Cathédrale Notre-Dame des Doms d'Avignon (Avignon Cathedral), built in the 12th century. It is a classic example of Romanesque architecture. The cathedral survived tough times but was eventually restored, reconsecrated, and in 1995 was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

From a cultural point of view, the city is famous for the Festival d'Avignon, which was first introduced in 1947 as a small event and has now grown into a huge international event and a platform for both established and young artists in each field. Held in July, the festival attracts more than 150,000 visitors every year.