Car Rental Avignon

Avignon is a compact city, but has much to see both locally and within driving distance. Shaped by the River Rhône, which flows along its western perimeter, the city is surrounded by mountains to the east and west, while one of Europe’s largest peaks, the 6,200ft Mont Ventoux, overlooks the town from the north.

The N570 and N580 encircle the historic center, providing easy access to Avignon’s top sights. Turn off Boulevard de la Ligne, head under the thick historic walls and use one of the parking lots along Rue Ferruce or close by. From here, you can explore the Musée du Petit Palais, Palais des Papes and Rocher des Doms. Many other parking lots can also be found in the city, including near to the shopping district along Rue de la République.

A number of major roads surround Avignon, making it easy to plan day trips to nearby towns and villages. Take the D2 and in 45 minutes or so you’ll be in Arles, where there are plenty of Roman landmarks to discover. Nimes is also 45 minutes away if you take the N100 and A9, and has just as many ancient treasures - including Les Arenes, a well-preserved amphitheater.

Afterward, you can drive over to Les Baux de Provence, a medieval village built on a rocky mound in the picturesque countryside of the Alpilles hills. Or you can take the D5 highway from Avignon to St Remy de Provence. This is where the Dutch impressionist master Vincent van Gogh created some of his most beautiful paintings.

While on the road in France, you’ll use the right-hand side as back home. The speed limit on freeways, known here as autoroutes, is generally 130km/h (80mph), but this is reduced in wet weather. Most of these are toll roads. In cities, towns and villages, limits of 50km/h (31mph) are typical.

Situated on the eastern side of the Rhône in the heart of the Provence region of France, Avignon is a fairytale city complemented by a warm Mediterranean climate, which translates into long hot summers and crisp, dry winters.

Exploring is all part of the fun, although you’ll soon find out that all roads in Avignon lead to the Rue de la République.

City of Popes

The Pope’s Palace is at the north end of the walled city and looms over the Rhône river, the fourth longest in France. Avignon was the papal home from 1309 to 1377 and hosted more than seven heads of the Catholic Church before Pope Gregory XI moved the papacy back to Rome. It’s the largest Gothic palace in the world, and has served both as a fortress and castle since its conception.

You can go on a walking tour of Old Avignon, which stretches around the Pope’s Palace. On any guided tour, you’ll come across King René’s house in the rue Roi-René and the Place de l’Horloge, which is a spectacular square famous for its pavement cafes.

Any walking tour is likely to go past the iconic Pont St-Bénézet bridge which, for a period, was the only crossing point on the Rhône river between Lyon and the Mediterranean.

Picture-perfect Provence

You can also explore the magnificent Provençal landscape with ease from Avignon. From the city center, you’ll end up winding through verdant hills covered in lavender, stopping at UNESCO-listed Pont du Gard that spans the Gardon River, and the antique stores of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.

Afterward, drive south to Les Baux de Provence, a fortified medieval village made from the limestone-rich earth. While on the road you can also visit the rustic beauty of Roussillon and Gordes, where you’ll enjoy gorgeous views and souvenir shopping.

On the way back to Avignon, be sure to drive up to the Lavender Museum in Coustellet and learn more about farming in the Provence region.

French festivals

The highlight of the city’s cultural calendar is the annual ‘Avignon Festival’, where the world’s greatest theater actors arrive in the French town.

The festival has been the main draw of France’s summer calendar for more than half a century, and the biggest venue by far is the Papal Palace, which can host up to 2,000 spectators. But plenty of fun can also be had with the 'Off' festival - a series of fringe events and performances taking place in the streets and at smaller spaces around the city. 

So, whether you want to relive the town’s sacred past or explore luscious fields and hilltop towns on a day trip, you can do all this and much more with car rental in Avignon. Reserve direct online today.