- Avignon
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- South France
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France
The Cloitre St Louis is a very affordable four-star hotel located in a former 16th-century monastery.
The rooms are quiet, spacious and very well decorated in a modern minimalist style and the breakfasts keep you going all day.
The hotel was an ideal location for non-car users, being a stone's throw from Avignon Centre railway station (not Avignon TGV).
Hotel Cloitre St Louis
20 Rue Du Portail Boquier
Avignon, FR 84000
Having been to many Michelin restaurants, I've never met an English-speaking sommalier so passionate or with such incredible depth of knowledge.
Further, she was delighted to recommend superb wines for €25/bottle.
Food was also first class.
Book in advance.
Near Rasteau
www.legrandpre.com
This is a two-star hotel near the centre of town. I think you'll be hard-pushed to find a better deal in St Rémy.
Avenue Fauconnet, 13210
tel: 04-90 92 09 28
map: tinyurl.com/23e8cj
My girlfriend and I just came from a wonderful trip to the south of France. Our recommendation: get away from the coast and drive from Cannes to Avignon.
You will encounter the Gorges du Verdon and end up in a little village of Moustiers Sainte Marie. Try the Restaurant Les Santons. It has the most wonderful food, a chef who cares about what he cooks and is very romantic. It is much better than Alain Ducasse's La Bastide.
Take a day trip to Gigondas from Avignon. Everyone raves about Chateauneuf du Pape. This is much better. They have a tasting room in the village. Try their wines from 1999 to 2003 for the best. You will not resist taking a few bottles back.
www.gourmetvoyageurs.com/country-pages/pages-france/provence/santons.html
Map: tinyurl.com/3ckv2m
The French have no idea how to prepare a pizza. Once you've been confronted with a tartiflette topping you'll agree. There is, however, a notable exception to the rule. Chez Mimmo, tucked away in the backstreets of Avignon near Les Halles, is superb and cheap - but then it is owned and run by Italians.
Chez Mimmo
19, Rue du Chapeau Rouge , 84000 Avignon
04 90824273
Map: tinyurl.com/2rd4mm
Superbly equipped "naturiste" camping site.
Rather hidden, right down in a spectacular river valley in the South of France.
Choose to swim in the river Ceze, or in their two good-sized pools.
Very relaxed atmosphere, beautiful surroundings, immaculate facilities including sauna, cafe, bar, etc.
Outside, there's fantastic food in local village restaurants.
Come with your own tent, or rent a comfortably equipped woden beach-hut onsite from just 350 Euros/week.
It's really perfect for all families and kids!
But remember, it's a “camping naturiste”: there's one strict rule - no wearing clothes allowed on site. So you’ll have no laundry at all for a whole, lovely, lazy week!
www.chm-montalivet.com/Lagenese/index_fla.htm
Map (approximate location only): tinyurl.com/yr8sqx
Forget trailing around all the overpriced touristy rubbish and head for 'Au Tout Petit' - it's situated on a small side street very close to the market (Les Halles).
The owner is passionate about the food he cooks and speaks good English. The food is fresh and imaginative and there's lots of advice about what to choose.
The place has only been open a short time and deserves as much support as possible.
Also, good news for coeliacs - the owner understands and caters for them.
The price is about 14 euros for two courses, even cheaper at lunchtimes!
04 rue d'Amphoux
84000 Avignon
Tel: 0490823886
Map: tinyurl.com/yswdc4
www.autoutpetit.fr
A great value house to rent in the middle of a medieval village between Avignon and Nimes.
The village has 30 potters, vineyards and olive groves. Beautiful.
Cheaper in June than the campsite. Budget airlines 30 minutes away.
Next door to Uzes, the first duchy of France.
Roussillon is one of the most beautiful villages in Provence and for that reason it is often crowded with tourists - but go towards the late afternoon when they've all gone and it's your beauty to behold.
The numerous craft shops, art galleries and friendly cafes bestow life and atmosphere to a village which is frequented by artists who are attracted to the light of sunset glistening on the famous ochre-built houses and church tower.
The ochre quarries outside Rousillon have been eroded by the wind into weird and wonderful shapes.
Rousillon lies 7 miles to the east of Avignon, deep within the Luberon valley. No public transport goes anywhere near the village so you really need your own car to get there (take the Cavaillon exit off the A7 motorway).
Map: tinyurl.com/3xupwx
What a find on the drive from Les Baux de Provence to Tarascon. An ancient city with a triumphal arch and cenotaph. The cenotaph is fantastic - so different from the other Roman relics in the area. You can see these two relics any time but the excavations are not open on a Monday.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glanum
Glanum is around 12 miles from Avignon.
Map: tinyurl.com/2tummh
On the opposite bank of the Rhone, this perfect little village is stuffed with amazing Medieval buildings.
For just over €6 you can get an "Avignon Passion" pass ticket which gives you entry to a monastery, a fortified tower (with the best views of Avignon and the Pont Saint-Benezet, the latter being the correct name for "Sur la pont...") a castle, an abbey garden and three other ancient gems.
The village square has several good bar/restaurants serving reasonably priced local dishes (about €8).
From Avignon cross the Rhone on the bridge signed "Ile Piot", turn right on the far bank and follow signs for Villeneuve a few hundred metres along.Map: tinyurl.com/ys3mhj
Appealing little bistro on the Place des Carmes, a pretty little tree-lined square.
Almost impossibly French, with red checked tablecloths, candles in wine bottles and a traditional, (inexpensive) French menu.
Gets busy with locals and tourists alike, especially at weeknds, so worth booking a table.
Madame is friendly and will try out her English if translation is needed.
Place des Carmes, Avignon.
Tel: 04.90.82.46.90.
Map: tinyurl.com/2f7gyh
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