Travel: 48 hours in Avignon

By Robin Gauldie
Published on 09/02/2013 00:00

What to do for two days in the French town of Avignon

• Friday, 2pm Check in at La Magnaneraie (37 rue Camp de Bataille, www.magnaneraie.najeti.co.uk). En-suite doubles start from e110 at this oasis in Villeneuve-lez-Avignon.

• Saturday, 11am Head for the Marché les Halles (www.avignon-leshalles.com) to watch some of Avignon’s top chefs in performance at the weekly La Petite Cuisine des Halles, then browse stalls piled with local produce.

• Noon Lunch at Le Bock’Halles (12 rue Petite Meuse, tel: [phone]), across the road from the market hall, where the menu concentrates on good solid regional French cooking with a North African tinge.

• 2pm Explore the vast, echoing Papal Palace (www.palais-des-papes.com), then walk to the end of the ruined Pont St Benezet for a great view of the medieval town.

• 4pm Take a dip in the hotel pool, then relax with an aperitif before heading back into town.

• 8pm La Mirande (www.la-mirande.fr) is the unmissable place for superb food in Avignon. Dine in the herb-scented garden.

• Sunday, 9am Rent a bike (www.velopop.fr) from the rental station at pl. du Marche. Pedal to the medieval Fort St André and visit its Italianate gardens. Ride on to the Chartreuse du Val de Benediction (www.chartreuse.org), then climb the 13th-century Tour Philippe le Bel for the unbeatable views.

• Noon Kick back by the huge pool at La Palmeraie, on an island in the Rhone, then take a trip on the river. (www.kayak-avignon.fr).

• 8pm Take a dinner cruise with Croisieres Mireo (www.mireo.net).

• 11pm Enjoy a nightcap in La Magnaneraie’s pleasant bar.

• Monday, 9am Check out.

THE FACTS EasyJet flies from Edinburgh to Lyon from £180 return, (www.easyjet.com); trains from Lyon airport to Avignon (www.voyages-sncf.com) cost from E23 one way; www.avignon-tourisme.com, www.tourisme-villeneuve-lezavignon.fr