Orientation

The town of Avignon is surrounded by a giant wall, so there are only so many ways you can get lost in it. Rue de la Republique, the main road from the train station, leads straight to the Palais des Papes, and divides the town into halves. Most of the cafes and restaurants are on the west side of the street, while the east side is generally comprised of hotels and private housing. Most of the shopping areas are clustered further down the main drag, or at Halles, the large shopping center in the middle of town. The Rhône river runs right by the city, and sports a very large island, the Île de la Barthelasse. There is camping here for those on a budget, as well as a hostel. The entire town is very walkable, and it would almost be more of a hassle to figure out the public transport; Avignon is comprised of a tangle of one-way streets and alleyways that date back to the 1200s. While you may get lost easily, it’s always easy to look up and see the Palais des Papes and re-orient yourself.