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 adapted 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, please 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.

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 popes in the 14th century, construction of which began in 1335 and was completed in less than twenty years, is primarily the work of two popes known for their architectural commissions: Benedict XII and his successor, Clement VI. It features 25 areas open to visitors: state rooms, chapels, a cloister, and the pope’s private apartments, adorned with priceless frescoes by the Italian artist Matteo Giovannetti. The monument is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 2026–2027: The Palace of the Popes is undergoing a transformation! On May 1, 2026, a new chapter begins for the monument, with the introduction of new interpretive narratives and the opening of rooms never before shown to the public! This tour, which will eventually be organized around three themes, will be accompanied by numerous educational resources: interactive models, documentary films, explanatory panels, new signage… An enhanced visitor experience, designed to help you fully understand both the everyday and grand history of the Palais des Papes! Available as soon as this new chapter begins, the “Keys to the Palace” web app will let you access all the content in six languages from any smartphone. We thank you for your patience during this implementation phase, which will continue through spring 2027, and we hope you enjoy your visit! Rooms Open to the Public More than twenty rooms are currently open to visitors. You can explore the audience chambers, such as the Grand Audience Chamber and the Consistory, where major decisions were once made. The ceremonial halls are impressive for their exceptional size: the Great Clementine Chapel hosted solemn ceremonies, while the Great Tinel once echoed with papal feasts. The pope’s private apartments reveal a more intimate side of papal life, featuring the Pope’s Chamber and the famous Chamber of the Stag, adorned with secular and naturalistic frescoes that were unique for their time. The Chapels of Saint-Martial and Saint-Jean, meanwhile, offer an exceptional setting thanks to the priceless frescoes by the Italian painter Matteo Giovannetti. Finally, the Palace’s terraces open onto a magnificent panorama, taking in the city of Avignon, the Rhône River, and the entire complex. NEW: THE KEYS TO THE PALACE Explore the Palais des Papes with your smartphone! Throughout your tour, locate yourself on a site map and access all the content: history, architecture, points of interest, captions for audiovisual content… The choice is yours—just use the room numbers to find your way! How does it work? Once you’re there, connect to the local Wi-Fi network named _LesClefsDuPalais Follow the on-screen instructions or visit visite.io You don’t need to download an app or have an internet connection. Good to know: Available in FR/EN/DE/ES/IT/CH/JP/COR We recommend using headphones to fully enjoy the videos and audio THE PALACE GARDENS The gardens of the Palais des Papes offer a relaxing space and provide a better understanding of the entire monument. The 14th-century water system was chosen as the defining element of the Palace Garden’s design. The Pope’s Garden is an intimate garden that once had direct access from the Pope’s apartments. The renovation has restored its unique character. In 2022, the city of Avignon was awarded the Gold Prize for Remarkable Gardens, placing second in the Victoires du Paysage awards. The gardens are part of the tour of the Palais des Papes. Pets are not allowed. Picnics are not allowed. Accessibility: Exhibition layout adapted for the hearing impaired. Due to the large number of steps, the tour route of the Palais des Papes is partially inaccessible to wheelchair users. Numerous guided tours of the monument are offered throughout the year. For information and reservations, visit www.avignon-tourisme.com The gift shop and bookstore are open to the public year-round. Watch the video of the gift shop: youtu.be/17jxnfkn7cc Pets are not allowed (except for guide dogs). The Palais des Papes has been awarded the “Accueil vélo” certification. PRACTICAL INFORMATION Infants and strollers: Strollers may not be used inside the monument and must be left at the coat check. Baby carriers are available for loan. TICKET OFFICE: Avignon Tourisme invites you to book your visit online by selecting your time slot. Book at www.avignon-tourisme.com Tickets may be purchased on-site and at the tourist office for time slots that are not fully booked. Subject to change.