World City Guide

Tours of the City

Walking Tours
The Avignon Tourist Office (tel: (04) 3274 3274) organises two-hour guided tours in French and English, departing at 1000 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (April to October) and every Saturday at 1000 (November to March). Tours are based on a specific theme and cover the major city sights. Departing from the main tourist office, 41 cours Jean Jaurès, the tours cost ¬8 per person.

A wander along the picturesque pedestrianised streets and up to the Rocher des Doms or along the city’s ramparts is recommended as a good route for a self-guided tour of the city.

Bus Tours
Cars Lieutaud, cour de la Gare SNCF (tel: (04) 9086 3675; fax: (04) 9085 5707; e-mail: contact@cars-lieutaud.fr; website: www.cars-lieutaud.fr ), operates bus tours in Provence, which depart daily from Avignon Central Station, boulevard St Roch (April to October). Half-day tours (1000–1230 and 1400-1830), for Vaison-la-Romaine and Orange (Monday afternoon), Pont du Gard (Tuesday and Thursday morning), les Alpilles (Tuesday and Thursday afternoon), Châteauneuf-du-Pape vineyards (Wednesday morning) and the Luberon (Wednesday afternoon). Friday’s full-day trip (1000–1830) visits Nîmes, Arles and the Camargue. On Wednesday morning, there is a trip to a Provençal market, at Saint Rémy de Provence. Morning trips are ¬15, afternoon trips ¬19 and day trips ¬28. Private tours with an English-speaking driver can also be arranged, with hotel pick-up available. These tours range in price from ¬210 to ¬405.

Visit Provence (tel: (04) 9014 7000; e-mail: self.voyages@wanadoo.fr; website: www.self-voyages.fr ) offers excellent value tours in air-conditioned minibuses. Itineraries include half-day tours to Pont du Gard (Tuesday morning), Saint Rémy, Les Baux and Pont du Gard (Tuesday afternoon, Thursday and Saturday afternoons), Les Baux and Arles (Monday and Friday afternoons), the Luberon (Tuesday and Thursday afternoons), Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine tour (Monday and Thursday mornings), Orange and Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Friday mornings). A full-day tour includes Avignon, Les Baux, Luberon and wine tasting (Wednesday and Saturday). Half-day tours cost ¬50 and full day tours cost ¬100 (prices include an English-speaking driver, hotel pick-up and drop-off, and entrance fees where applicable).

Boat Tours
Les Grands Bateaux de Provence (tel: (04) 9085 6225; fax: (04) 9085 6114; e-mail: bateaugbp@aol.com; website: www.avignon-et-provence.com/mireio ) runs six times per day in July and August, with a reduced service in May, June and September, between Avignon and Villeneuve-lès-Avignon. A return journey takes one hour and 15 minutes. The first boat departs from Avignon at 1030 and the last day boat returns from Villeneuve-lès-Avignon at 1830. The return journey costs ¬7 (concessions are available). Tickets are for sale at the Allées de l’Oulle landing stage, tourist offices, Pont St Bénezet or on board.

In addition, frequent boats run from the Pont St Bénezet to the Ile de la Barthelasse. This swift, five-minute ferry service is free and crosses every day 1000-2000 (July and August), and 1400-1800 (from September). Visitors can take a bicycle and ride around the paths or just stroll, for magnificent views over the Palais des Papes and city ramparts.

Train Tours
Les Trains Touristiques d’Avignon (tel: (06) 1135 0666; fax: (04) 9082 7940; website: www.ot-avignon.fr ) operates tourist trains that chug around the Old Town (journey time – 35 minutes). Departing from the place du Palais, a trip costs ¬6 to the Old Town and ¬2 to the Rocher des Doms. Trains depart every 35 minutes, daily 1000-1900, from 15 March to 15 October (from 1330 to the Rocher des Doms only).