Avignon is one of the most beautiful cities in France. Located in the heart of the French countryside, Avignon has many attractions for both the casual sightseer and the French history buff. The town is basically a small central very old area with a large castle.
The surrounding area is home to a more modern city complete with fast food markets and highways. Most visitors come here to admire the town and see the undisturbed countryside. Views from the top of the castle span many miles and include a historic bridge that has fallen into disrepair.
I was lucky enough to be there during the Avignon film festival. The festival takes place during the early, hot days of July. For a week or so, staid Avignon is transformed into a place of uproarious abandon where film is the king and performance art a given.
After days of admiring the audacity of the French, I decided to decamp to Paris for a serious change of scenery. Fortunately, the trip from Avignon to Paris is an easy hop from the heart of town. Travel between the two is quick and pleasant.
Avignon has two train stations. The first is a rather plain and drab elevated station a short distance from the old city. The second is a modern train station with large windows and a huge flower and wildlife garden just outside the doors of the station.
I opted for the former simply for the sake of convenience. The Eurostar line has a direct route from the Avignon to Paris. The schedule for trains can be easily looked up a various area venues including the train station. Trains to Paris from Avignon are fairly frequent.
The frequency of the train depends on the day and time you want to travel. More frequent trains are available during rush hours and when demand is higher. Trains are easy to get during much of the day however.
I got a copy of the schedule from my local hotel. You can pay for the trip in advance or at the train station when you are there. Train tickets vary in price.
The price of the Eurostar ticket varied depending on the class you opt for. First class is more expensive while second class can as much as half the price of the ticket. I opted for a second class ticket.
I did
so because the savings can be considerable and I don’t see much of difference between the two classes. Both offer comfortable seating in a pleasant setting with the option to buy food and walk around during the trip.
The trip between Avignon and Paris took about two and a half hours. I opted for the Gard du Nord Station in Paris as it was close to my hotel. The trip takes one through miles of French countryside.
I highly recommend traveling to Avignon. Avignon is a lovely town with a beguiling history. It is also highly convenient to many major French cities including Paris.