Not a bridge too far: Eurostar brings Avignon’s famous pont closer, along with all the delights of Provence
PHOTOS EUROSTAR
There is something timelessly romantic about a long weekend in Provence. But just as I love the South of France, so too do I hold a special place in my heart for long, fast train journeys, particularly when they take me through unfamiliar countryside. That’s why, when I heard of the new direct Eurostar route from London to Avignon in under six hours (and Marseilles in under seven), I booked the wife and myself a minibreak tout de suite. Not only was this a more eco-friendly way to whizz ourselves to a stunning medieval city than flying, but it was also a whole lot more relaxing and also relatively inexpensive (depending on when you book).
So, what can you do in just under 72 hours in Avignon? Quite a bit, as we found out. The city centre is very small (the size of central Bath or Oxford) and can be mooched around in a couple of hours. We started with a quick visit to the Tourist Office on Cour Jean Jaurès to gather maps and information before kicking things oflwith the Unesco World Heritage site, Le Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes). It’s an imposing medieval castle, built in the 14th century, when it was the seat of the papacy. Allow yourself an hour at least to explore all the atmospheric courtyards, cloisters and (vast) chapels, and get a full sense of the money and power that built these imposing halls before traversing the famous adjoining semi-finished Avignon bridge that stops halfway across the Rhone (€13.50 for combined palace and bridge ticket).