| Don't be fooled by its cosy image as the home of the 'Pont d'Avignon'. This one-time fountain of poetry, art and debauchery is as seductive as ever, drawing from a potent palette of history, velvety wines and deep blue skies. Eurostar runs a direct service to Avignon every summer.
Dating from when Avignon was a Rome from home, the mammoth Palais des Papes is the finest fortified Gothic palace in the world. The famous broken Pont d'Avignon (official name: Pont St. Bénézet) is best viewed from the adjacent Pont Daladier.
But if you thought Avignon was all about museums and sedate walks among the fountains, you could be in for a surprise. Sure, the Palais des Papes is the town's tour de force, and serene café-lined squares aren't exactly in short supply.
Still, if it's fantastic festivals, food and fireworks you're after, the sparky heart of Provence is a cracker.
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