For a Provence, France holiday, a vacation rental or villa in Avignon would make a good base for day trips by rental car, train, or bus to see all of Provence. Hotels, vacation homes, and villa rentals in Avignon offer a central location near the TGV train line, the conventional train, the bus service, and the high-speed highways that reach all of Provence.

Here are Some Day Trips You Can Make From Avignon

Day Trips East Of Avignon, The Lavender Trail

A good day trip from Avignon during mid-June and early July is to drive east on highway D900 to the plateau de Vaucluse and the towns of Gordes and Roussillon. Further east, visit the town of Apt to see the lavender fields in bloom from the high cliffs of the nearby village of Saignon. About an hour north of Apt, the town of Sault in the high country is one of the centers of lavender production.

During this day trip through lavender country on the lavender trail, many places make outstanding visits. Foremost would be a stop at the Abbey of Senanque near Gordes to take photos of the fields of lavender with the abbey buildings in the background. The Abbey of Senanque offers tours of the 12th-century interior and the grounds.

Not far from Gordes, in the Luberon of Provence, just off the D900, the village of Coustellet is the home of the lavender museum, an interesting visit. At the Musee de la Lavande, visitors can learn about the distilling process used in the making of lavender products in a display of antique lavender stills collected by the Lincele Family during their five generations of lavender production.

Notable villages in the area include Goult, where a stone windmill tops the hill and where great vistas are open to the visitor. Another interesting village is Lactose for its hilltop ruin, the chateau of the Marque de Sade. Below the hills of Lacoste, fields of lavender ripen near the 2nd Century Julian Bridge, a Roman structure used until recently by daily traffic.

Day Trips South Of Avignon, Les Alpilles

Avignon is located just forty-three miles north of Arles, the center of many memorable Provence towns, some with Roman roots.

The city of Arles was once an important Roman center on the Rhone River in Province and still has a functioning Roman Coliseum where, during festivals, the arena hosts bullfighting events.

The roadway D570N goes southwest out of Avignon following the Rhone River and reaching Arles after passing near Tarascon, a good visit for its castle.

Arles could make a day trip in itself with its many Roman ruins, museums, and historic trails for walking in and around the city.

In the area, you also find the Alpilles towns of St. Remy with its Roman town of Glanum, Les Baux-de-Provence with its medieval re-enactments and catapult demonstrations on the former hilltop fortress, and Fontvieille with its stone windmill.

The Camargue

From Arles, a trip of 41 miles south across the Rhone on the D570 leads to the vast flat grasslands of the Camargue, famed for its white horses, black bulls, estuarine wildlife such as pink flamingos, and the May Gypsy festival at the village of Saints Maries de la Mer.

Day Trips Southeast of Avignon

High-speed roads such as the A7 pass near Avignon and put Aix-en-Provence under one hour away. Aix-en-Provence is a great city for walking and could take much of a day or more to tour. The old city has many pedestrian streets, Gothic churches, and museums. Train service through Avignon also reaches Aix-en-Provence.

The A7 also puts Marseilles within 65 miles of Avignon and within reach for a day trip.

Day Trips North of Avignon

There is much to see north of Avignon as well. In June sunflowers ripen, cherries are ripe and ready at roadside stands along with fresh apricots and melons.

The city of Orange has many Roman structures, most notably the Roman Theater, one of only three intact Roman theaters left in the world. Also, in Orange, you find the Great Triumphal Arch. Just 14 miles north of Avignon, the wine region of Chateauneuf-du-Pape is a worthwhile visit for its wines and the views from the ruins of the old chateau.

Avignon

Avignon has its own charm and many places to visit. Dine at the restaurant La Forchette, visit the Palace of the Popes, shop the markets, and cruise the Rhone; Avignon is rich in history, architecture, and charm.

Read: Avignon Travel Guide

Avignon Villa, Vacation Home, or AirBnB Rental

A Vacation Rental in Avignon will make the city yours and can put all of Provence within reach. Avignon is served by TGV high-speed train service from Paris to its TGV station, where tourist info, bus service to the city, and rental cars are available. Hotels in Avignon offer a central location near the train lines and highways, which makes Avignon a convenient place for a vacation and one great base for tours to all of Provence.

Read: Things To Do In Avignon, Things You Should See In Avignon