EV17 - ViaRhôna stage 18 - Caderousse > Avignon

A delightful medieval village with 2,156 inhabitants on the left bank of the River Rhone, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the unique starting point for wine lovers wishing to explore the most prestigious wines of the Rhone Valley.Visiting the village on foot will help you appreciate its rich heritage, with the high point being the famous Château des Papes, the former summer residence of the sovereign pontiffs in Avignon. Come and explore our town, with its little streets, its wine cellars and estates where you can taste the divine nectar - with pleasure guaranteed! Find out about the history of the village through its various monuments: ** The Château des Papes, dating from the 14th century, listed as a Historic Monument since 1892 ** Notre Dame de l’Assomption, 12th century church ** Saint Théodorit Chapel, built in the 10th or early 11th century, listed as a Historic Monument in 1984 for the frescoes decorating the choir ** Bienheureux Pierre de Luxembourg Chapel ** The oratories - St Marc oratory, St Joseph oratory, oratory of the Crucifix ** Hers Tower (private property, not open for visits) ** Islon St Luc, a protected natural site, the starting point for hiking trails Discover all the secrets of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation with an audio-guided visit to the Wine Museum (admission free). Did you know? The village is lucky enough to have a chocolate factory, the Chocolaterie Bernard Castelain, a manufacturer of traditional chocolates, about 2 km from the town centre. In summer you can enjoy some delicious ice creams! Lastly, the Blachère Distillery, next to the chocolate factory, is one of the oldest distilleries in Provence. Here Vintage Marcs of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are made, liqueurs and syrups, including the famous Pac Lemon drink. Once a year, the village goes back in time to the Middle Ages for the not-to-be-missed Fête de la Véraison! Every year, on the first weekend in August, for the past 30 years, the Fête de la Véraison has transformed the old town into a real medieval village, with performances, historic reconstitutions, parades and scenes from everyday life transporting visitors back to yesteryear. Noble knights and gentle damsels, minstrels and jugglers, merchants and tavern keepers take over the village streets for three days of festivities and entertainment. In the tradition of traditional fairs, the big market has more than a hundred stands devoted to the medieval period. Weekly market on Friday morning.

The ramparts, ranked as UNESCO World Heritage, encircle the entire old city. They are 4.3 km long, and were started in 1355 during the Papacy of Pope Innocent VI, to protect the city from the assaults by the roving bands of mercenaries. They were finished in 1370 under Pope Urban V.The entrance of the Avignon Bridge provides access onto the ramparts, and to the Rocher des Doms Gardens. The views over the city and the Rhône River are breathtaking. There is no charge to go up on the ramparts.

The Saint Bénezet bridge, a major witness of the history of Avignon, is known throughout the world thanks to the famous song. Built from the 12th century, it was washed away several times by the floods of the Rhone, and finally abandoned in the seventeenth century. Classified World Heritage by UNESCO.Legend has it that the bridge was built in the 12th century by a young shepherd from the Vivarais region, Bénézet, by heavenly command. In reality, however, the bridge's construction was an ongoing project spanning several centuries. Hydrological changes in the river, following climatic changes from the 15th century onwards, were responsible for its destruction. It was no longer used from the 17th century onwards. The bridge was 920 meters long, with 22 arches linking the two banks of the Rhône. A bearer of legends and an emblematic monument of the region, it was the subject of unprecedented interdisciplinary work from 2010 to 2016, mobilizing an entire community of researchers under the aegis of Greater Avignon and the CNRS. The results of this research can now be admired thanks to museographic and multimedia mediation devices that reconstitute the Bridge in 3D in its landscape at different times. PRACTICAL INFORMATION Ticketing: visits to the bridge can be purchased online, at the Tourist Office reception desk or on site, but access is available all day, with no time restrictions. New-generation touch-screen audio guides in 12 languages: Fr, Ang, All, It, Esp, Nd, Jp, Ch, Russian, Polish, Portuguese, Korean (flags). Child-friendly version in FR and GB. IH: The monument has been awarded the Tourisme & Handicap label for motor, mental and hearing disabilities, and is equipped with audio guides for the visually impaired, Braille and audio description versions, and museography adapted for the hearing impaired, FALC. The monument is equipped with an elevator for disabled access. However, we invite you to check that it is working properly before you visit by contacting our team on + 33 (0)4 32 74 32 74. Thank you for your understanding. Dogs on a leash are welcome. Le Pont Saint-Bénézet has been awarded the "Accueil vélo" label.

Sorgues 18764 habitantsSituée au carrefour de grands sites économiques, touristiques et culturels, Sorgues est une ville industrielle et moderne. La présence de la papauté avignonnaise au XIVème siècle a contribué au développement de la cité et lui a légué un fabuleux patrimoine. Des traces de ce passé sont encore visibles aujourd'hui. Ville verte, Sorgues dispose d’espaces naturels, invitations à la découverte de la nature, comme l'Ile de l'Oiselay, (réseau Natura 2000) qui abrite une faune et une flore exceptionnelles. Ville culturelle, Sorgues a vu en 2010 l’ouverture du Pôle Culturel Camille Claudel qui rassemble médiathèque, écoles de musique et de danse, ateliers socio-éducatifs, l'Accueil Municipal des Jeunes (AMdj), salle de spectacle et d'expositions. LES PRINCIPAUX MONUMENTS : ♦ L'église du Plan de la Tour dite église de la Transfiguration (XVIIIème siècle) : renfermant une toile monumentale du Christ en gloire. ♦ L'Église Saint Sixte (XIe siècle) : de style roman (abside classée aux Monuments Historiques) ♦ Le Château Saint-Hubert : représentatif de l'architecture dans le Comtat Venaissin au XVIIIe siècle. ♦ Les six roues à aubes ♦ Le jardin du Château de Brantes (1700), labellisé « Jardin remarquable ». Découvrez ces monuments et bien d'autres à travers le dépliant "Découverte du patrimoine", disponible à l'office de tourisme de Pernes-les-Fontaines et de Monteux ! Mais aussi sur le lien suivant : fr.calameo.com/read/002770132e2934891264c

The monumental residence of the pontiffs, a symbol of the Church's influence on the Christian West in the 14th century, is the largest Gothic palace in the world!The Palais des Papes is one of the 10 most visited monuments in France. The residence of the 14th-century pontiffs, it was built in less than twenty years, starting in 1335, and was principally the work of two papal builders, Benedict XII and his successor Clement VI. There are 25 different areas to visit: state rooms, chapels, cloisters and the pope's private apartments, all decorated with priceless frescoes by Italian artist Matteo Giovannetti. The monument is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 2026-2027: The Palais des papes is transformed! On May 1, 2026, a new page opens for the monument, with the introduction of new discovery stories and the opening of rooms never before shown to the public! This tour, which will eventually be divided into 3 themes, will be accompanied by a host of mediation tools: interactive models, documentary films, explanatory labels, new signage... An enhanced visitor experience, to understand everything about the history of the Palais des papes! Available from the opening of this new chapter, the WebApp "les clefs du palais" will enable access from any smartphone to all content in 6 languages. We'd like to thank you for your understanding during this project, which will continue until spring 2027, and wish you a pleasant discovery! NEW: THE KEYS TO THE PALACE Discover the Palais des Papes with your smartphone! All along your tour, locate yourself on a map and access all the content: history, architecture, points of interest, audiovisual subtitles... It's up to you, using the room numbers to find your way! How does it work? Once on site, connect to the local WIFI called _LESCLEFSDUPALAIS. You'll automatically be directed to the tour home page, where you can choose the route you'd like to take. You don't need to download an application or a web connection. Good to know: We recommend that you use your headphones to fully enjoy the videos and audios. With your WIFI enabled, we recommend that you disable 4G/5G. THE PALACE GARDENS Recently restored, these gardens are a new attraction for visitors, providing a space for relaxation and a better understanding of the entire Palais des Papes. The Jardin du Pape and the Jardin du Palais join the Verger Urbain V, inaugurated on September 14, 2018, and freely accessible to the public, to complete the triptych of the Jardins du Palais des Papes. This redevelopment is structured into two areas: the Jardin du Palais (or Jardin Benoît XII, 1,250m2) and the Jardin du Pape (662m2). The Jardin du Pape is an intimate garden, with direct access from the papal apartments. The redevelopment has restored its precious character, with the re-creation of the griffin fountain and the surrounding flower meadow. The famous and imposing Roma building, of which only a trace remains on the ground, has been reconstituted in the form of a monumental pergola, which will eventually be entirely covered with plants. You can visit the Palais gardens on their own, or combine them with a visit to the Pont d'Avignon or the Palais des Papes. Free for Avignon residents every day of the year, upon reservation and presentation of proof of address. IH : Museography adapted for the hearing impaired. Due to a large number of steps, the tour of the Palais des Papes is partially inaccessible to wheelchair users. Numerous guided tours of the monument are offered throughout the year. Information and reservations at www.avignon-tourisme.com The boutique-bookshop is open all year round. See the store video: youtu.be/17jxnfkn7cc Pets are not allowed (except guide dogs). The Palais des Papes has been awarded the "Accueil vélo" label. PRACTICAL INFORMATION Babies and strollers: strollers may not be used inside the monument and must be left at the cloakroom. Baby carriers available on loan. TICKETS: Avignon Tourisme invites you to book your visit online by choosing your time slot. Reservations at www.avignon-tourisme.com Tickets can be purchased on site and at the tourist office for slots that are not fully booked. Subject to change without notice.