Avignon City Add-On

This was our first ‘Journey’ style holiday with Inntravel, and we found the same meticulous planning and attention to detail that we have experienced in previous walking holidays.

We undertook the whole journey from the UK by rail, which although it takes much longer than flying, is actually quite relaxing. All the train links worked well, with plenty of time allowed to make the necessary connections.

The 3 cities were all fascinating, with so much to see in each one. We found it worthwhile spending an extra night in each of the cities, as that enabled us to spend an entire day exploring each one, as well as giving us a chance to take some of the recommended day trips. We were able to take a day trip to Carcassonne from Narbonne, as it’s only 30 mins by train, and it’s quite a frequent service.

The 3 hotels Inntravel use are all very well situated, not too far from the stations, yet within easy walking distance to the main attractions.

We were fortunate that our stay in Narbonne coincided with a ‘free’ cultural weekend, so we were able to visit all the main sights without having to pay. In Nimes and Arles we bought the respective tourist pass which is a cheaper and more convenient way to visit all the historical sights.

September is an ideal month to visit this part of France. We had warm and sunny weather apart from one showery morning, and it wasn’t overwhelmed with too many tourists.

Rather than taking the suggested day trip to Avignon, we booked 2 nights there as a city add on at the end of our holiday. This was worthwhile, as it is quite large, and there is a lot to see.

Finding good places to eat in the evenings was never a problem. Our favourites in each city were Restaurant Gaia in Narbonne, Les Magnolias in Nimes, Le Constantin in Arles and Le Cochon Bleu in Avignon. They were all close to the hotels as well.

Our highlights include the cathedral, archbishop’s palace and the Horreum in Narbonne, the Jardin de la Fontaine in Nimes, our day trip by bus to Aigues-Mortes, the Alyscamps, lunch in the delightful courtyard of the Espace Van Gogh and the Archaeological Museum in Arles. In Avignon, we enjoyed our visit to the Palais des Papes, walking on the famous bridge, and the views of the Rhone and Mont Ventoux from the Rocher des Doms gardens.

However, the most pleasure came from taking our time and wandering through the streets of these ancient cities, helped by the Inntravel maps and walking notes.

A gentle walk through vineyards, olive groves and delightful villages. The Pont du Gard was an absolute highlight. As the hotel is only a short walk away, we went straight to Pont du Gard first thing in the morning and beat the crowds. We then did the suggested walk, had lunch in the hill top village of Castillon-du-Gard and finished the day back at Pont du Gard when the sun was shining on the other side of the bridge.,Avignon was an excellent add on trip. We had very good meals at La Petite Peche and Le Gout du Jour - both very close to Hotel de L'Horloge.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined our walk To the Pont du Gard with our Avignon City add-on

The holiday was everything that we hoped it would be. The expectation and anticipation of arriving at each hotel was very exciting and rewarding. In each the breakfasts and dinners were consistently delicious and the picnics provided were more than ample. The lack of an alternative regular restaurant in Collias could be an issue but fortunately we were able to plan ahead and make provision for this with an evening "picnic". Without a doubt the main highlight was the kayak trip down the Gardon river in Collias to the Pont du Gard; paddling round the curve in the river to see the Pont revealed in front of you was a moment that will live in the memory forever. Another couple of delightful days were spent in the intriguing town of Uzes; we were so pleased to be able to visit it initially on a "quiet" day to take in and appreciate its scenic beauty and wonderful buildings, and then the following day to experience the hubbub of market day with the noise, the colour and the unbelievable range of items for sale.

We are pleased that we spent some time in Avignon too; the town has much to offer ranging from the fascinating covered market of Les Halles where a couple of hours passed in a moment, to the interesting walk around the more historic parts of Avignon. We found the notes provided when used with a map available from the tourist office enabled us to explore all aspects of the town. The number of restaurants on hand meant that the only problem was choosing which menu tempted us the most.