Excursions around Montpellier: Avignon

Learning French in Montpellier is a real opportunity to immerse yourself in the French language and culture. You will be able to discover the South of France by taking part in the cultural activities and excursions that our French as a Foreign Language school offers you during your stay. Avignon, the famous city of the Popes, just an hour's drive from Montpellier, is a must for cultural and linguistic tourism. 
 
Your excursion to Avignon will begin with a panorama of the city's grandiose urban landscape from the Espace Jeanne Laurent. You will be able to admire the various monuments, a unique architectural ensemble classified by UNESCO as a "World Heritage Site". You will then dance (optional!) on the famous Pont d'Avignon bridge, the legend of which will be told to you during the guided tour.
 
A French course in Montpellier also means spending a cultural holiday, thanks to which you will be able to have memorable memories of the South of France. Discover a unique and pleasant atmosphere and the impressive landscapes of Avignon.
 
Afterwards you will go to the Rocher des Doms from where you will have a breathtaking view; it is a must for a walk in Avignon and has always been a popular place to visit.
 
Avignon is also famous for its annual theatre festival founded in 1947 by Jean Vilar which takes place every summer in July all over the city, sometimes in unlikely places. If you come to study French in France during the summer, don't hesitate to go there; these four weeks of festival give an incredible atmosphere in the city which is covered with posters to promote the different competing shows.
 
This is undoubtedly the most important theatrical and performing arts event in France, and it is a good way if you come to study French in the South of France to immerse yourself in French culture in an atypical way.
 
But Avignon would not be what it is without its magnificent Palais des Papes, the symbol of the influence of the church on the Christian West in the 14th century. You will discover it during the excursion, this work is mainly the work of two popes who built the most important gothic palace in the world!
 
During the free time after the guided tour, don't hesitate to get lost in the charming little streets of the city or to visit the interior of the famous Popes' Palace, with its fabulous decorations and its 15,000 m2 of floor space: it will leave you speechless!
 
You will also discover that Avignon is a great place to learn about Provençal cuisine: French chefs, some of them with stars, prepare traditional or innovative dishes to be savoured in charming restaurants.
 
The shopkeepers of the halles, the oldest covered market in the city, offer all year round the opportunity to discover Provencal specialities and French local products in an incomparable atmosphere.
 
Finally, did you know?... Avignon has been the capital of Côtes du Rhône wines since 1996!
 
Excursions are an excellent way to learn French while having a great time. You will be able to meet other students on a language trip at our language school in Montpellier and make lots of unforgettable memories of your trip to the South of France!