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Avignon, the splendid city of the Popes, which extends on the left bank of the Rhône, has a wonderful historic center, which has its major attractions in the Palace of the Popes and the Saint-Bénézet bridge, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site . In Avignon, in Provence, the papacy was based for over a hundred years between 1309 and 1423 and the city and its surroundings remained under the control of the popes until the French revolution.
AVIGNON CHRISTMAS MARKET
During the weeks before Christmas and New Year’s Eve, the city of Avignon comes alive with numerous Christmas-related initiatives. Artisans and traders of the city will present their products, including the famous “santos”, the classic Provençal figurines for the crib, but in the shops of the city you will find sweets and local products, Christmas trees and gifts … Shows and entertainment activities for children, there will be street shows and games every weekend. In accordance with the Provençal tradition, the nativity scenes present in various places in the city are to be discovered. Avignon in December is a city that allows you to discover the typical Christmas traditions of Provence, and where you can shop in anticipation of the end-of-year festivities. The merchants of the city offer many gift ideas: jewellery, games, wooden toys, decorative objects, wellness products, as well as gastronomic specialties and the famous “santos”, the classic Provençal figurines for the crib, which are the typical Provençal products of the Christmas crafts.
In Fontaine de Vaucluse, a small medieval village, 30 km from Avignon, you can visit the interesting Musée du santon et traditions de Provence, a museum dedicated to the typical Provençal figurines in hand-decorated terracotta, called “santon”, which embellish the nativity scenes of Provence . The museum exhibits over two thousand unique pieces.