Provence and Avignon are incomparable places in the world. Between nature and history, your stay in the region will be rich and diverse. There are so many places to visit in Avignon. The region is so unique that it’s even possible to make unusual visits around Avignon.
Unusual visits around Avignon:
Discover the heritage of Roquemaure by canoe
If you ask people from Avignon or the surrounding area about places to visit, I guarantee you that no one will spontaneously mention Roquemaure. Yet this village has an important past that is unfortunately disappearing. The Greater Avignon Tourist Office has decided to create a fun activity for the general public based on this heritage.
History of Roquemaure
The history of Roquemaure is incredible. There are two particularly important events.
The death of Clement V
Let’s go back in time to 1314… Clement V, the very first pope of Avignon , felt that the end was near. Nostalgic for his beloved Gascony, he decided to set off one last time for his native land.
But the journey is long. Clément stopped off at the Château de Roquemaure, unaware that he would never leave again. It was here, within the walls of this beautiful residence, that he breathed his last on April 20, 1314.
A royal end of life in a place steeped in history… Roquemaure thus becomes the scene of the last chapter of an extraordinary pope!
The Côtes-du-Rhône appellation
The Uzès region was then split in two, and King Louis XV, a lover of good wine (or at least well-advised), had an idea in mind: to give the Roquemaure region a true viticultural identity.
On September 27, 1729, he issued his first royal edict. So, in 1731, he did it again, with a much tougher version:
“All barrels of wine from Roquemaure and neighboring villages – Tavel, Lirac, Saint-Laurent-des-Arbres, Saint-Geniès-de-Comolas, Orsan, Chusclan, Codolet, etc. – are to be bottled and sold in the winery. – If they are of superior quality, they should be fire-marked with the letters C.D.R., for “Côte du Rhône”, and the year of the vintage. But only when they’re full!”
And thus was born one of the most famous appellations on the wine planet: Côtes-Du-Rhône. A little royal stamp, and an entire region becomes legendary!
Would you like to discover Roquemaure in a different way?
Forget the usual tours and join Claire for an extraordinary adventure… in a canoe!
Roquemaure’s history is far richer than most people imagine. And to unlock its secrets, Claire offers you an original, gentle canoe trip along an old canal that’s now unused… but perfect for exploring!
As you glide along, you’ll catch a glimpse of the remains of the château and the river toll, before passing under the old bridge. Then it’s back to nature: lush vegetation surrounds you, like a green jewel case around history.
Accessible to all, even non-athletes, this walk is ideal for families. This new way of looking at monuments changes everything: you understand better, you feel more, you really marvel.
Claire is the ideal person for this tour: smiling, dynamic, ultra knowledgeable about her city. With her, there’s no time to get bored – between anecdotes, landscapes and good humor, you’ll love it!
Practical information
This activity is available in July and August every Wednesday at 2pm. Booking is compulsory. Visit the Canoës de Vaucluse website.
The nigh owl of Villeneuve lez Avignon
Villeneuve lez Avignon has always grown up in the shadow of its big sister Avignon. Although the two towns are linked by destiny and geography, Villeneuve has a very different development and history from Avignon.
History of Villeneuve lez Avignon
Villeneuve lez Avignon is much more than a pretty name: it’s a town built around two emblematic monuments, between spirituality and royal strategy. On one side, Saint-André Abbey. On the other, the Philippe le Bel tower. Two pillars of a fascinating history…
Saint-André Abbey: between mysticism and power
It all began in 856 with Casarie, a woman retreating to a hermitage on Mount Andaon. On December 8, she breathed her last. Her husband – yes, her husband! – was none other than Valens, bishop of Avignon. Moved, he had an oratory built over her tomb. Pilgrims soon flocked to the site, miracles began to happen… and in 976, construction began on a large abbey.
Definitively christened “Saint-André” by Pope Gregory V, the abbey became a power in the south of France, rivalling… Avignon itself!
But the big break came during the Albigensian Crusade: in 1226, the Avignonnais closed their doors to King Louis VIII. A strategic error… He laid siege to the city for 3 months. And then, as if by magic, Abbot Bernard de Clausonne seized the opportunity and signed a “contract of betage” with the king. It was the first time a French king had taken an interest in this bank of the Rhône.
The Philippe le Bel tower: a king, a bridge, a tower
Decades later, his great-grandson, Philippe le Bel, came on the scene. In 1292, a new pledge contract was signed with the abbot. This time, the project was ambitious: to build a fortified village to control the French bank of the Rhône.
He built a châtelet at the mouth of the Pont Saint-Bénézet – built a century earlier – with an imposing tower overlooking the river. Today, only the keep remains, but what a keep it is! It proudly bears the name of its builder: Philippe le Bel. A royal lookout facing Avignon.
A mystical abbey, a strategic tower… Villeneuve lez Avignon has seen its history unfold between prayer and power, monastic silence and royal ambitions. A fascinating duality to discover on site!
Unusual visits around Avignon:
What if the night revealed another facet of Avignon?
When the city falls asleep, its history slowly awakens… In the calm of the alleyways and under the golden glow of the streetlamps, the city’s heritage is revealed in all its intimacy.
Les Noctambules d’Avignon invites you to experience a timeless, starlit adventure. And what better gateway than the majestic Tour Philippe le Bel, stone guardian of Villeneuve lez Avignon’s royal past?
Along the way, you’ll delve into the secrets of the town: the influence of the Avignon popes, the remains of the old hospital, the symbols engraved in the stone… clues left there like whispers of yesteryear.
The tour ends in style at Fort Saint-André, where the history of Villeneuve-lez-Avignon began. A grandiose finale, between light and shadow, that will make you see the town in a whole new light.
A magical nocturnal stroll, ideal for those who love stories, mysteries and the gentle emotions of the evening. Let yourself be guided… the night belongs to the curious.
Practical information
Every Monday evening from April to the end of September, you can take part in the night owl of Villeneuve lez Avignon. Departure times are between 8:30pm and 9:30pm. Groups are limited to 10 people. Reservations are required.
