Tourist attractions Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Louis XIV called the stage wall of the Ancient Theatre "the most handsome in the kingdom". It is made of granite and African breccia, and its outer facing is striking in its simplicity – it is broken only by the corbels supporting the poles..

This 15 000m Palais des Papes is made up of the Old Palace and the New Palace. The former, a fortress with austere architecture, was commissioned by Benoît XII in 1334. Artist and prodigy, Clément VI, grand prince of the Church, must have found it ra..

Erected c 20 BC this remarkably large and extremely well preserved triumphal arch is one of the most imposing examples from Ancient Roman times in existence. Furthermore, the north façade has retained a good deal of its original decoration, which com..

The «Bridge of Avignon» which was in fact built for pedestrians and cavaliers was about 900m long with 22 arches and ended at the Tower of Philippe-le-Bel de Villeneuve-lès-Avignon. Situated on one of the bridge supports, the chapel of St-Nicholas ..

A stone’s throw from the Papal Palace. From the different levels you can take in views of the Rhône, St Bénézet Bridge, Philippe-le-Bel Tower and the fort of St André de Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, Mt Ventoux, the Alpilles…

The Pope bought Cardinal Arnaud de Via’s palace in 1335 to install the bishop’s house there. It now houses the Petit Palais Museum’s paintings, of which the Campana Collection of Italian paintings from the 13C and 16C is the high point. Don’t miss ..

A collection donated to a couple of Avignon painters by the Paris dress designer, Jacques Doucet : paintings by Cézanne, Sisley, Manet, Derain, Picasso, Modigliani ( The Pink Blouse ) and Foujita, and The Railway Waggons , painted by Vincent Van Go..

Its classical 17C façade, terraces and balustrades decorated with lions and flower urns overlook a pond and Italian-style park. The interior of the château, designed by Louis-François de Valfenière, features an 18C décor of Italian inspiration. The f..

The Val-de-Bénédiction Charterhouse is worth a detour. Once through the cloister gate , walk towards the main nave of the church which affords a superb view of Fort St-André. Visit the small cloister, the chapter house, the sextons' courtyard and ..

The fort enclosed an abbey, the Romanesque chapel of Notre Dame de Belvézet and a village of which nothing remains. It was erected in the 14C by Jean the Good and Charles V. Its magnificent entrance, the twin towers , is a fine example of medieval..

Housed in the Pierre-de-Luxembourg mansion, the municipal museum displays some exceptional artworks, including a 14C Virgin in polychrome ivory, carved from elephant tusk. Note also the Virgin with two faces from the Nuremberg school (14C), the chasu..

In addition to Arles-born Joseph Vernet ’s great seascapes, this museum founded by Dr Esprit Calvet houses numerous sculptures, fine goldwork and earthenware (Puech Donation), French, Flemish and Italian paintings from the 16C-19C ( The Death of Bar..

Behind the Baroque façade of the Chapelle des Jésuites lies a trove of treasures from the region’s past. From the Noves "Tarasque" (a monster from Celtic tradition) to the Gallo-Roman period, superb statues: portraits of emperors or simple ..

The building was commissioned by Pope Benoit XIII in 1404. A classic 17C door completes the façade. The flamboyant doorway known as the «Jewish door» was the door used by converted Jews after receiving the Sacrament. Inside, a balcony communicaties..

Dating from 1367, it was rebuilt in the 18C. The room for worship (upstairs) is very simple, yet richly decorated. On the ground floor and in the basement are the Mikva , which is a 14C ritual bath, and the bakeries, where unleavened bread was baked..

At the northern end of the park is an orientation table from where you have a broad view over the ancient theatre in the foreground, and beyond this the town and the plain of the Rhône, with its setting of mountains. Important remains have been dis..

The museum contains some interesting lapidary collections and a unique Roman cadastre of Orange engraved on two marble tablets. Among the other rooms, note those devoted to the Wetter family, who in 1764 employed 530 people in Orange to manufacture..

This charming shady square gives onto the pleasant rue du Mazeau (antique dealers), which leads to the Ancient Theatre.

Orange’s town hall, which stands on this square, has preserved its 17C belfry. People flock to the café terraces in fine weather.