Avignon, France
Avignon Holiday Rental Villas - Avignon Apartments, France
Avignon is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. Avignon enjoys an enviable location on the left bank of the Rhône river. Avignon boasts a rich past – it is known as the second Rome because of the arrival of the Popes in the 14th Century. It was also the residence of several antipopes from 1378 to 1408 and the city is well known for its Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes) – buildings all over the city testify this. When you rent a holiday home in Avignon – you’ll be privy to all of the attractions of a UNESCO Heritage site.
There are many buildings rich in history to discover when you stay in an Avignon holiday rental villa, and these include the Notre Dame des Doms. The cathedral, a Romanesque building, was mainly built during the 12th century. The mausoleum of Pope John XXII is one of the most beautiful works within the cathedral. The Palais des Papes ("Papal Palace") almost dwarfs the cathedral. The palace is an impressive monument and sits within a square of the same name.
Minor churches of the town include St Pierre, which has a graceful facade and richly carved doors. St Didier and St Agricol, all three of which were built in the Gothic architectural style. Ramparts, built by the popes in the 14th century, still encircled Avignon and they are one of the finest examples of medieval fortification in existence.
At the Pont d'Avignon (bridge of Avignon) only four of the eighteen sections are left; on one of them stands the small Romanesque chapel of Saint-Bénézet.
A famous theatre festival is held annually in Avignon. Founded in 1947, the Avignon Festival is a treat for lovers of theatre, dance, music, and cinema, making good use of the town's historical monuments. Every summer approximately 100,000 people attend the festival. There are two festivals that take place: the more formal "Festival In", which presents plays inside the Palace of the Popes and the more bohemian "Festival Off", which is known for its presentation of largely undiscovered plays and street performances
Avignon has an SNCF railway station, Gare d'Avignon-Centre, situated just outside the ramparts of the old town, and the Gare d'Avignon TGV outside the town, served by the LGV Méditerranée, offers a high-speed rail system to Paris for connections to the Eurostar. Avignon airport offers regular flights to most of UK’s airports. Flybe, Jet2 and CityJet are the carriers who frequent this airport.
Avignon has an inviting Mediterranean climate characterized by relatively dry summers and cool, damp winters. The city is often subject to windy weather; the strongest wind is the mistral.