Avignon

Avignon is one of France's most spectacular historic cities — a walled papal city on the Rhône that served as the seat of the Catholic papacy from 1309 to 1377, a period that left it with the largest Gothic palace in Europe and an extraordinary concentration of medieval monuments now protected as a Unesco World Heritage Site. The Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes) dominates the city — a colossal Gothic fortress-palace of 15,000 square metres built in two phases in the 14th century, its bare interiors now hauntingly beautiful in their stripped grandeur. The audio guide brings the complex to life. The Pont Saint-Bénézet (the "Pont d'Avignon" of the children's song), of which only four arches survive, stretching into the Rhône, is the other defining image. The Rocher des Doms gardens above the palace offer the best views over the river and the Alpilles beyond. The Avignon Theatre Festival (Festival d'Avignon, July) is one of the world's most important performing arts festivals — the city transforms into a stage, with performances in every courtyard, cloister and public space. Villeneuve-lès-Avignon across the Rhône is an excellent and less touristic alternative base. The surrounding Rhône wine country (Châteauneuf-du-Pape is 15 minutes), the Luberon villages and the Roman monuments at Nîmes and the Pont du Gard are all accessible. The Avignon TGV station connects to Paris in 2h40.