Destination guide

Avignon & Provence

Historic towns, markets and stone villages.

Stone village of Gordes in Provence — 1 gordes pano 2016.jpg · Chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0Photo source ↗

Getting here

TGV stations serve the region, not every village. Compare onward rail from Paris or Nice and local transfers.

SNCF stations: Avignon TGV · Avignon Centre · Aix-en-Provence TGV
Airport options: CDG · NCE · MRS

Plan a stay in Avignon & Provence ↗

Local traditions & calendar · checked 30 September 2026

What’s on in Avignon & Provence.

Recurring cultural and folkloric traditions, followed by events announced for the next three months (30 September 2026 to 30 December 2026).

A recurring local event

Nîmes Feria de Pentecôte

Usual timing: Usually over the Pentecost weekend in May or June
Why it matters locally: A city-wide gathering rooted in the bullfighting and Camargue traditions of the region, with music, bodegas and street festivities; the programme includes events that do not involve bullfighting.
Typical audience: Residents and visitors; free street events alongside ticketed arena events
Usual attendance: The city does not publish one comparable attendance total for all feria events.

Official event / local calendar ↗

Announced events in the next three months

Gordes village in Provence — Provence, Gordes (PRO 02.45 0957).jpg · Michael.F.H.Barth · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Destination or regional photo illustrating the place, not a documentary image of this event.Photo source ↗

16–18 October 2026 · Participating Provence wine-tourism destinations

Vignobles en Scène! Provence

Local wineries and wine-tourism hosts offer tastings and experiences; check individual listings for the nearest venue.

Local meaning: The programme celebrates vineyard landscapes, winegrowers and regional food traditions.

Audience: General public; booking depends on venue

Usual attendance: No combined attendance figure published for the multi-region programme.

Official event page ↗

Photos are credited destination images used to illustrate the location, not documentary photos of the events. Attendance figures appear only when organisers publish them. Dates, access and tickets can change.

Browse the official local events calendar ↗

Dates, tastings & practical details

Wine events near Côtes du Rhône.

Check each organiser for programme updates, ticket terms and venue details before planning travel.

Vineyard in Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the southern Rhône — 142 Châteauneuf-du-Pape vineyard.jpg · Jarrod Doll · CC BY 2.0 · Vineyard-region photo, not a documentary image of this event.Photo source ↗

18–20 October 2027 · Avignon and Rhône Valley venues

Découvertes en Vallée du Rhône

Who it’s for: Wine trade professionals
Tasting: Professional tasting and producer meetings; not a general-public festival.
Prestige: Major trade showcase for Rhône Valley appellations
For a visitor: Relevant for trade visitors; leisure travellers should use the Rhône public-event calendar for tastings open to visitors.
Booking: Professional registration / accreditation required.

Official event details ↗

16–18 October 2026 · Participating Rhône Valley wine-tourism destinations

Vignobles en Scène! · Rhône Valley programme

Who it’s for: General public; programme varies by venue
Tasting: Some events combine winery visits, tastings, food pairings and vineyard experiences.
Prestige: National wine-tourism weekend with regional experiences
For a visitor: Good for adding a hosted wine activity to an Avignon or Rhône-village itinerary.
Booking: Many activities have limited places; check each listing and reserve.

Official event details ↗

Stay in Avignon

Where to stay.

Choose the type of accommodation that fits this city or location.

Character hotels & inns

Locally run hotels, historic inns and boutique stays; compare location, stairs, meal service and arrival hours.

Find character stays ↗

Apartments · Airbnb

Self-catering options for families and longer stays. Check cleaning fees, exact address and cancellation terms.

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Practical hotels

Compare practical hotels near the station or city centre, including room facilities and the full dated price.

Compare functional hotels ↗

Well-reviewed hostels

A lower-cost option for solo travellers and groups; check room type, lockers, reviews and quiet hours.

Browse hostels ↗

Country inns, guesthouses & gîtes

For rural or lakeside stays, check access without a car, evening meals, seasonal opening and the nearest food shops.

Find local guesthouses & gîtes ↗

Holiday / vacation rentals

Compare holiday rentals (UK) and vacation rentals (US), along with local hotels and apartments.

See accommodation near Avignon ↗

These are place-specific search links, not inspected or guaranteed properties. Compare the exact location, dated total price, recent reviews and cancellation policy.

Read, watch & see.

A book

La Gloire de mon père — Marcel Pagnol

Childhood and holiday memories around Marseille and the Garlaban hills.

A film

La Gloire de mon père — Yves Robert

The screen adaptation explores Pagnol’s Provençal landscapes.

Mont Sainte-Victoire by Paul Cézanne — La Montagne Sainte-Victoire vue de la carrière Bibémus, par Paul Cézanne.jpg · Paul Cézanne · Public domainPhoto source ↗

A work of art

Mont Sainte-Victoire — Paul Cézanne

A recurring subject near Aix-en-Provence; versions are held by different museums.

Explore the reference ↗

A film, book or artwork may be connected through its setting, creator, subject or a local collection. An artwork linked to this place may be held elsewhere.

A taste of the terroir.

Baked eggs prepared in a Provençal style — Oeufs cocotte provencale.jpg · Charlie1 · CC BY-SA 3.0Photo source ↗

Emblematic dish

Daube provençale

Slow-cooked beef with wine and Provençal aromatics.

A plate of French cheeses illustrating regional cheese traditions — Une assiette de fromages, Brie de Meaux, Livarot et Camembert di Bufala.jpg · Benoît Prieur · CC0 1.0Photo source ↗

Typical cheese

Banon

A soft goat cheese traditionally wrapped in chestnut leaves.

Vineyard in the Aix-en-Provence wine region — Aix-en-Provence vineyard.jpg · Teddy Sipaseuth · CC BY-SA 2.0Photo source ↗

Wine & regional drinks

Southern Rhône & Provence

Around Avignon, explore Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Rhône wines. Farther south and east, discover the separate Provence appellations.

A French terrace aperitif illustrating regional drinks — Apéritif en terrasse.jpeg · Polo-le-def · CC BY-SA 3.0Photo source ↗

Spirits & aperitifs

Pastis

Anise-flavoured spirits associated with Provence and especially Marseille.

Explore Côtes du Rhône wine & terroir journeys ↗

Three local starting points

Where to eat.

L’Épicerie

Place Saint-Pierre, Avignon

A central option on a historic square near the basilica.

Restaurant details ↗

Le Moutardier du Pape

Place du Palais, Avignon

A local dining option near the Palais des Papes; check current details.

Restaurant details ↗

Grand Café Barretta

Avignon

Restaurant and wine-bar address in the official Avignon selection.

Restaurant details ↗

Explore the local restaurant selection ↗

These are starting points, not a ranking or personal inspection. Check current menus, prices, opening times and dietary options with the restaurant before visiting.

References & further reading