landmark
Palais des Papes
The largest Gothic palace in the world, serving as the seat of Western Christianity during the 14th century.
0 km · about 5 min drive
EuropeFranceProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Avignon
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France · Europe
About Avignon
Avignon works well as a base: 10 minutes from Le Pontet, 21km from Théâtre Antique d'Orange.
Avignon is in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France, with about 90,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Le Pontet, about 4 km away.
Avignon (, US also , French: [aviɲɔ̃] ; Provençal: Avinhon (Classical norm) or Avignoun (Mistralian norm), IPA: [aviˈɲun]; Latin: Avenio) is the prefecture of the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southern France. Located on the left bank of the river Rhône, the commune has a populationRead more
of 92,188 (2023), with about 16,000 (estimate from Avignon's municipal services) living in the ancient town centre enclosed by its medieval walls.
Between 1309 and 1377, during the Avignon Papacy, seven successive popes resided in Avignon and in 1348 Pope Clement VI bought the town from Joanna I of Naples. Papal control persisted until 1791 when during the French Revolution it became part of France. This is why Avignon is also known as La Cité des Papes ('The City of the Popes').
The city is the capital of the Vaucluse department and is one of the constituent municipalities in the Vaucluse and the Gard of the urban agglomeration of Grand Avignon with a combined population of 199,932 (2023).
The historic centre is one of the few cities in France to have preserved its mediaeval city walls and includes the Palais des Papes, Avignon Cathedral and the Pont d'Avignon. Due to its architectural and cultural importance during the 14th and 15th centuries, it was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1995. The medieval monuments and the annual Festival d'Avignon – one of the world's largest festivals for performing arts – have helped to make the town a major centre for tourism.
Where to Stay in Avignon
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Avignon.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Avignon.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Avignon?
Within an hour or so of Avignon: Palais des Papes (0 km), Théâtre Antique d'Orange (21 km), Pont du Gard (22 km), Carrières des Lumières (22 km).
Are there any good drives near Avignon?
The nearest famous roads are Gorges de la Nesque Road, Route des Crêtes (Cassis) and Route Napoléon.
Where is Avignon?
Avignon is in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France, about 4 km from Le Pontet.
Road trip
Drive to Avignon
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Avignon. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 89,769
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- France
- Region
- Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Timezone
- Europe/Paris
- Coordinates
- 43.9483, 4.8089
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in France
Carrying a warning triangle and hi-vis vest in your vehicle is mandatory. Motorway emergency phones connect to official breakdown services only.
Full driving guide for FranceTags
Worth the detour from Avignon
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
ancient ruins
Théâtre Antique d'Orange
The best-preserved Roman theatre in Europe, its towering stage wall still hosting performances after 2,000 years.
21 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
Pont du Gard
Remarkably preserved three-tiered Roman aqueduct bridge built in the first century AD in southern France.
22 km · about 25 min drive
museum
Carrières des Lumières
Old limestone quarries turned into a vast immersive art show projected across 14 m stone walls.
22 km · about 25 min drive
castle
Les Baux-de-Provence
A dramatic medieval fortress village crowning a rocky limestone outcrop in the Alpilles mountains.
23 km · about 25 min drive
racetrack
Circuit de Ledenon
Twisting, roller-coaster circuit in the sun-baked hills near Nimes, famed as France's most technical track; a favourite of motorcyclists and track-day drivers, and one of few French circuits run anti-clockwise.
25 km · about 30 min drive
waterfall
Fontaine-de-Vaucluse
France's most powerful spring gushes from the foot of a cliff into an impossibly green pool.
26 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Abbaye de Sénanque
A serene 12th-century Cistercian abbey framed by its own postcard rows of summer lavender.
30 km · about 35 min drive
Driving roads near Avignon
9 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 150km.
- 41 kmGorges de la Nesque RoadA serene Provençal balcony drive (D942) winding above a 400 m-deep limestone canyon near Mont Ventoux, with the Belvédère de Castellaras as its showpiece viewpoint.
- 45 kmMont Ventoux Summit ViewpointThe 'Beast of Provence' at 1,912 metres, a barren lunar summit offering views from the Alps to the Mediterranean on clear days.
- 51 kmPlateau de Sault Lavender FieldsEndless rows of purple lavender perfume the high Vaucluse plateau every summer beneath Mont Ventoux.
Driving in France
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.85/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€10.00/100km
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Avignon.
Plan a trip around Avignon
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Avignon.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.