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Avignon & Around

Includes  Why Go? Avignon ...... 196 Encircled by crenellated ramparts dating back 800 years, Châteauneuf- Avignon lords above the mighty Rhône. Its 14th-century hill- du-Pape...... 205 top palace – the former seat of popes – defines the skyline Orange...... 207 and begs for exploration, while the narrow streets and leafy Vaison-la-Romaine . . .209 squares fanning out beneath it invite wandering. Rolling countryside unfurls outside Avignon, dotted with Dentelles de Montmirail...... 211 ancient villages and vineyards that produce some of ’s best wines. Sample renowned vintages in Châteauneuf-du- ...... 213 Pape or in the saw-toothed Dentelles de Montmirail. Dis- Carpentras cover incredibly preserved Roman ruins in Orange, Nîmes & Around...... 215 and St-Rémy-de-, and explore medieval streets in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. . .. 218 Vaison-la-Romaine and Les Baux-de-Provence. St-Rémy-de- The glass-green River Sorgue – ready-made for canoeing – Provence ...... 222 connects picturesque towns like L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, celebrat- Nîmes & Around . . . 226 ed for antiques shopping, and Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, the river’s mysterious source. Hikers and bikers flock to windswept Mont Ventoux, Provence’s highest peak, rising from purple lavender fields that perfume the summer breeze. Best Places to Eat ¨¨L’Oustau de Baumanière (p225) Driving Distances (km)

¨¨Le Verger des Papes (p206) Carpentras 67 ¨¨Le Moulin à Huile (p211) Vaison-la-Romaine 80 24 ¨¨Le Vivier (p219) Orange 53 22 28 ¨¨83.Vernet (p201) St-Rémy-de-Provence 41 45 70 48 ¨¨Christian Etienne (p201) Avignon 42 25 46 27 20 Best Places to Stay ¨¨Hôtel La Mirande (p200) ¨ ¨Sous les Figuiers (p223) Nîme s Carpentras Vaison-la- Romaine Orange St-Rémy-de -Provence ¨¨La Prévôté (p219) ¨¨Mas de l’Amarine (p224) e # \ # # \ \

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Explore palaces, palaces, Explore Antique-shop Village-hop Village-hop Climb to hilltop, hilltop, Climb to Spot royalty, royalty, Spot Ascend Sample France’s France’s Sample Joust Joust with Paddle beneath beneath Paddle Revive Rome at Rome Revive

explore Roman Roman explore a ruins and make pilgrimage Van to home last Gogh’s in St-Rémy-de- Provence Provence’s mightiest mightiest Provence’s Mont Ventoux peak, . (p213) great wines in wines great Châteauneuf-du- . (p205) Pape gladiatorial ghosts at ghosts gladiatorial arena the spectacular . (p226) in Nîmes Pont du Pont the famous (p229) . Gard Théâtre Antique the Théâtre in Orange (p207) a 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 Highlights & Around 1 Avignon bridges and ancient bridges Avignon in streets . (p196) and explore canals in canals and explore L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (p218) . through the through de Dentelles . (p211) Montmirail Avi Vaison-la- medieval g . (p209) Romaine non & Around Highlights

Avignon & Around 194