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Avignon
Welcome to Avignon, the majestic City of Popes and the heart of Provence. Dominated by the colossal Palais des Papes, this UNESCO World Heritage city is a treasure trove of medieval history, vibrant culture, and theatrical spirit. From its famous bridge to its charming squares, this guide to the best luxury hotels in Avignon reveals the city’s most historic stays.
Welcome to Avignon: The Majestic City of Popes
Welcome to Avignon, the magnificent and historic City of Popes and the vibrant cultural heart of beautiful Provence. Dominated by the colossal and awe-inspiring Palais des Papes, the world’s largest Gothic palace, this magnificent UNESCO World Heritage city is a true and unforgettable treasure trove of medieval history, vibrant and world-class culture, and a theatrical spirit that comes alive each summer during its famous festival. From its iconic and legendary medieval bridge to its charming, plane-tree-shaded squares, this comprehensive guide to the best luxury hotels in Avignon will reveal the city’s most historic, charming, and elegant stays for a truly exceptional Provençal journey.
1. La Mirande
The Place: Unquestionably the most iconic and luxurious hotel in Avignon, this magnificent 14th-century palace is located directly behind the spectacular Palais des Papes. The hotel is a masterpiece of historic restoration, with opulent, 18th-century-inspired interiors filled with priceless antiques. It offers an unparalleled experience of timeless French elegance, history, and gastronomic excellence for its guests.
My Top Pick: The unforgettable experience of taking a cooking class in the hotel’s magnificent and authentic 19th-century kitchen, followed by a communal dinner.
1. La Mirande: A Journey into 18th-Century Grandeur
The Place: Unquestionably the most iconic, historic, and luxurious hotel in all of Avignon, the magnificent La Mirande is housed in a beautiful 14th-century palace that is perfectly and dramatically located directly behind the spectacular Palais des Papes. The hotel is a true and undisputed masterpiece of historic restoration, with opulent, authentic, and museum-quality 18th-century-inspired interiors that are filled with priceless antiques, silk wall coverings, and crystal chandeliers. It offers an unparalleled experience of timeless French elegance, deep history, and world-class gastronomic excellence for its many discerning guests.
My Top Pick: The unique and unforgettable experience of taking a hands-on cooking class in the hotel’s magnificent and truly authentic 19th-century kitchen, which is followed by a convivial and delicious communal dinner at the grand kitchen table, is absolutely magical.
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2. Hôtel d’Europe
The Place: A legendary and historic hotel housed in a magnificent 16th-century mansion, which has been welcoming guests since 1799. Located in the heart of the city, the hotel is celebrated for its timeless elegance, its magnificent and serene central courtyard, and its rich history of hosting emperors, kings, and famous artists for centuries.
My Top Pick: The magnificent and serene central courtyard is a true oasis of peace, providing a beautiful and historic setting for enjoying a delicious meal.
2. Hôtel d’Europe: A Legendary Provençal Institution
The Place: A legendary and deeply historic hotel, the Hôtel d’Europe is housed in a magnificent and beautifully preserved 16th-century mansion (‘hôtel particulier’) and has been continuously welcoming guests, including popes and emperors, since 1799. Perfectly located in the very heart of the city, the hotel is celebrated for its timeless and understated elegance, its magnificent and deeply serene central courtyard, and its rich and palpable history. It has hosted famous figures like Napoleon Bonaparte, Victor Hugo, and Pablo Picasso.
My Top Pick: The magnificent and deeply serene central courtyard, with its ancient trees and beautiful fountain, is a true and undisputed oasis of peace and tranquility. It provides a beautiful and historic setting for enjoying a delicious gourmet meal.
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3. Le Prieuré Baumanière
The Place: An exquisite and deeply romantic Relais & Châteaux property housed in a beautifully restored 14th-century priory. Located just across the river in the charming village of Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, this hotel is a true sanctuary of peace. It is renowned for its magnificent Mediterranean gardens, its beautiful swimming pool, and its acclaimed Michelin-starred restaurant.
My Top Pick: The magnificent and serene swimming pool, which is set within the hotel’s beautiful and fragrant private gardens, is a true Provençal paradise.
3. Le Prieuré Baumanière: A Romantic Priory Retreat
The Place: An exquisite and deeply romantic Relais & Châteaux property, Le Prieuré is housed in a beautifully and sensitively restored 14th-century priory. It is located just across the river from Avignon in the charming and historic village of Villeneuve-lès-Avignon. This magnificent hotel is a true sanctuary of peace and tranquility, renowned for its magnificent and fragrant Mediterranean gardens, its beautiful and serene swimming pool, and its acclaimed and sophisticated Michelin-starred restaurant.
My Top Pick: The magnificent and serene swimming pool, which is beautifully set within the hotel’s lush, fragrant, and meticulously maintained private gardens, is a true and undisputed Provençal paradise, perfect for a day of ultimate relaxation in the sun.
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4. Hotel de l’Horloge
The Place: A charming and elegant hotel with an unbeatable location on the beautiful and lively Place de l’Horloge, the city’s main square. The hotel is housed in a magnificent 19th-century building and is known for its classic, sophisticated style and its warm, welcoming atmosphere. It provides a perfect and highly convenient base for exploring.
My Top Pick: The spectacular, direct views of the beautiful Place de l’Horloge and the theatre from the hotel’s privileged and highly sought-after front-facing rooms.
4. Hotel de l’Horloge: A Classic on the Main Square
The Place: A charming and deeply elegant hotel, the Hotel de l’Horloge boasts an absolutely unbeatable and highly sought-after location directly on the beautiful and lively Place de l’Horloge, the city’s main and most vibrant square. The hotel is housed in a magnificent and historic 19th-century building and is known for its classic, sophisticated style and its warm, welcoming, and deeply relaxing atmosphere. It provides a perfect and highly convenient base for exploring the city’s many historic sights.
My Top Pick: The spectacular, direct, and uninterrupted views of the beautiful and lively Place de l’Horloge and the magnificent, historic 19th-century theatre from the hotel’s privileged and highly sought-after front-facing rooms are truly magnificent and deeply atmospheric.
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5. Avignon Grand Hotel
The Place: A large and modern hotel with a fantastic location, situated just outside the magnificent medieval city walls. The hotel is known for its extensive facilities, including a magnificent rooftop swimming pool, and for its spacious, comfortable rooms. It offers a contemporary and highly convenient base, perfect for both leisure and business travelers exploring the city.
My Top Pick: The magnificent rooftop swimming pool and its surrounding sun terrace offer a fantastic and refreshing escape with beautiful views of the historic city walls.
5. Avignon Grand Hotel: Modern Comfort by the City Walls
The Place: A large and modern hotel that enjoys a fantastic and highly convenient location, situated just outside the magnificent and beautifully preserved medieval city walls. The hotel is particularly known for its extensive and excellent facilities, including a magnificent and very popular rooftop swimming pool, and for its very spacious and comfortable, contemporary rooms. It offers a modern and highly convenient base, which is perfect for both leisure and business travelers who are exploring the city.
My Top Pick: The magnificent rooftop swimming pool and its surrounding expansive sun terrace offer a fantastic and deeply refreshing escape from the summer heat. It provides beautiful and unique views of the historic city walls and the city’s rooftops.
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6. Hôtel de Cambis
The Place: A new and incredibly stylish boutique hotel with a unique and innovative design theme inspired by the wines of the nearby Rhône Valley. Located in the heart of the city, each floor of the hotel is dedicated to a different wine appellation. It offers a chic, contemporary, and deeply immersive experience for wine lovers.
My Top Pick: The hotel’s unique and beautifully executed wine-themed design provides a fun, sophisticated, and truly unforgettable experience for every single one of its guests.
6. Hôtel de Cambis: A Toast to Contemporary Design
The Place: A new and incredibly stylish boutique hotel, the Hôtel de Cambis has a unique and innovative design theme that is beautifully and cleverly inspired by the famous and prestigious wines of the nearby Rhône Valley. Perfectly located in the heart of the city, each of the hotel’s beautifully designed floors is dedicated to a different wine appellation, from Châteauneuf-du-Pape to Côtes du Rhône. It offers a chic, contemporary, and deeply immersive experience for wine lovers.
My Top Pick: The hotel’s unique and beautifully executed wine-themed interior design by the talented Julie Gauthron is a true highlight. It provides a fun, sophisticated, deeply interesting, and truly unforgettable accommodation experience for every single one of its guests.
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7. Hotel Cloitre Saint-Louis Avignon
The Place: A unique and deeply historic hotel housed in a magnificent and beautifully preserved 16th-century Jesuit cloister, with a contemporary wing designed by the renowned architect Jean Nouvel. The hotel offers a spectacular and deeply atmospheric experience, masterfully blending its rich architectural heritage with a bold, modern design. It provides a serene and truly unique stay.
My Top Pick: The magnificent and historic central cloister and its rooftop swimming pool provide a truly unique and spectacular setting for relaxation and enjoying the sun.
7. Hotel Cloitre Saint-Louis Avignon: A Fusion of Old and New
The Place: A unique and deeply historic hotel, the Cloitre Saint-Louis is housed in a magnificent and beautifully preserved 16th-century Jesuit cloister, with a striking and bold contemporary wing that was designed by the world-renowned Pritzker Prize-winning architect, Jean Nouvel. The hotel offers a spectacular and deeply atmospheric experience, masterfully blending its rich and protected architectural heritage with a bold, minimalist, and modern design. It provides a serene and truly unique stay.
My Top Pick: The magnificent and historic central cloister is the heart of the hotel. Its beautiful, serene atmosphere, combined with the unexpected and chic rooftop swimming pool that overlooks it, provides a truly unique and spectacular setting for relaxation.
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8. Mercure Pont d’Avignon Centre
The Place: A modern and comfortable hotel with a fantastic and highly convenient location, situated right at the foot of the famous Pont d’Avignon and just steps from the Palais des Papes. The hotel offers a practical and stylish base for exploring the city’s most important and famous historic monuments, all of which are on its doorstep.
My Top Pick: The hotel’s unbeatable location makes it incredibly easy to explore the city’s most famous UNESCO World Heritage sites without any need for transport.
8. Mercure Pont d’Avignon Centre: At the Foot of the Famous Bridge
The Place: A modern and very comfortable hotel that enjoys a fantastic and highly convenient location, perfectly situated right at the foot of the famous and iconic Pont d’Avignon (the Pont Saint-Bénézet) and just a few steps away from the magnificent Palais des Papes. The hotel offers a practical and stylish base for exploring the city’s most important and world-famous historic monuments, all of which are located right on its doorstep for every guest to enjoy.
My Top Pick: The hotel’s unbeatable and truly privileged location is its greatest asset. It makes it incredibly easy and completely effortless to explore the city’s most famous and spectacular UNESCO World Heritage sites without any need for public transport.
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9. La Divine Comédie
The Place: An exclusive and incredibly stylish guesthouse that offers an intimate and highly luxurious experience, with just five opulent suites. Housed in a magnificent historic building, the property is celebrated for having the largest private garden in all of Avignon. It provides a serene, sophisticated, and deeply private sanctuary in the heart of the city.
My Top Pick: The magnificent and vast private garden, which features a beautiful swimming pool and a wellness area, is a true and unexpected hidden paradise.
9. La Divine Comédie: An Exclusive Garden Paradise
The Place: An exclusive and incredibly stylish guesthouse, La Divine Comédie offers an intimate and highly luxurious experience, with just five opulent and individually designed suites. Housed in a magnificent and historic building, the property is most celebrated for having the largest and most beautiful private garden in all of Avignon. It provides a serene, sophisticated, and deeply private sanctuary right in the very heart of the bustling and historic city.
My Top Pick: The magnificent and vast private garden is a true and unexpected hidden paradise. It features a beautiful swimming pool, a wellness area with a jacuzzi, and a serene, tranquil atmosphere that is simply unparalleled in the city.
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10. Hotel De L’Atelier
The Place: A charming and deeply historic boutique hotel housed in a beautifully restored 16th-century building in the heart of the charming village of Villeneuve-lès-Avignon. The hotel is known for its authentic Provençal character, its beautiful and serene private garden, and its warm, welcoming hospitality. It offers a peaceful and deeply romantic escape from the city.
My Top Pick: The beautiful and serene walled garden is a true hidden gem, providing a perfect and tranquil oasis for enjoying a delicious breakfast.
10. Hotel De L’Atelier: A Charming Provençal Hideaway
The Place: A charming and deeply historic boutique hotel, the Hotel De L’Atelier is housed in a beautifully and sensitively restored 16th-century building in the very heart of the charming and historic village of Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, just across the river. The hotel is known for its authentic and traditional Provençal character, its beautiful and serene private garden, and its warm, welcoming, and deeply personal hospitality. It offers a peaceful and deeply romantic escape.
My Top Pick: The beautiful and serene walled garden is a true hidden gem of the property. It provides a perfect and wonderfully tranquil oasis for enjoying a delicious and fresh breakfast, surrounded by fragrant flowers and the sounds of birdsong.
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Bonus: Baumanière – Les Baux de Provence
A legendary and spectacular 5-star Relais & Châteaux hotel located at the foot of the magnificent medieval village of Les Baux-de-Provence. This iconic property is a true sanctuary of Provençal luxury and gastronomy, featuring a three-Michelin-starred restaurant, a magnificent spa, three swimming pools, and beautiful gardens, offering the ultimate and most unforgettable luxury escape in the heart of Provence.
Bonus: Baumanière – Les Baux de Provence: A Legendary Provençal Escape
The Place: A legendary and truly spectacular 5-star Relais & Châteaux hotel, Baumanière is located at the foot of the magnificent and dramatic medieval hilltop village of Les Baux-de-Provence. This iconic and world-renowned property is a true and undisputed sanctuary of Provençal luxury and high gastronomy. It features a famous three-Michelin-starred restaurant (L’Oustau de Baumanière), a magnificent Sisley spa, three beautiful swimming pools, and extensive, beautiful gardens, offering the ultimate and most unforgettable luxury escape in the heart of Provence.
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Expert’s Opinion: One to Choose?
Here’s our recommendation to help you choose the perfect luxury hotel in Avignon for your trip:
- For the ultimate historic palace experience: The magnificent and opulent La Mirande is an undisputed, world-class icon of French luxury.
- For a serene, garden retreat: The beautiful Le Prieuré Baumanière or the exclusive La Divine Comédie are perfect choices.
- For a unique, architectural stay: The historic Hotel Cloitre Saint-Louis Avignon offers a fascinating blend of old and new design.
- For a prime, central location: The classic Hôtel d’Europe or the convenient Hotel de l’Horloge are perfectly positioned.
Expert’s Opinion: One to Choose?
Here’s our recommendation to help you choose the perfect luxury hotel in Avignon for your trip:
- For the ultimate historic palace experience: The magnificent and truly opulent La Mirande is an undisputed, world-class icon of French luxury and history, located right next to the Palais des Papes.
- For a serene, garden retreat: The beautiful and romantic Le Prieuré Baumanière in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon or the incredibly exclusive and vast garden of La Divine Comédie are perfect choices.
- For a unique, architectural stay: The deeply historic and beautiful Hotel Cloitre Saint-Louis Avignon, with its blend of a 16th-century cloister and a wing by Jean Nouvel, offers a fascinating experience.
- For a prime, central location on the main square: The classic and elegant Hôtel d’Europe or the convenient and comfortable Hotel de l’Horloge are perfectly positioned in the heart of the city.
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Travel Guides: Avignon, France
A stay at a luxury hotel is the perfect start to your Avignon adventure. To make the most of your trip, here is a travel guide that complements the article on luxury hotels in Avignon.
1. Best Time to Visit Avignon
- Festival d’Avignon (July): For a vibrant, exciting, and deeply theatrical experience, visit during the world-famous and historic annual theatre festival, when the entire city transforms into a magnificent stage.
- Spring (April-June) & Autumn (September-October): These are the absolute best times to visit for pleasant, warm weather, which is perfect for exploring the city and the beautiful, lavender-filled countryside of Provence.
- Summer: Summer can be hot and crowded, especially during the festival, but the city has a fantastic and lively atmosphere with many outdoor events.
1. When to Go?
- Festival d’Avignon (July): For a vibrant, theatrical experience, visit during the world-famous annual theatre festival.
- Spring (April-June) & Autumn (September-October): These are the best times to visit for pleasant weather, perfect for exploring the city and the surrounding lavender fields of Provence.
2. Getting Around Avignon
- Walking: The historic center of Avignon, which is completely enclosed by its magnificent and well-preserved medieval walls, is compact and a true joy to explore on foot.
- Car: A car is absolutely essential for exploring the wider and incredibly beautiful Provence region, including the charming hilltop villages of the Luberon, the vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and the magnificent Pont du Gard.
- Trains: Avignon has a high-speed train station (TGV) that offers excellent connections to Paris, Marseille, and other major French cities, making it an easy city to reach.
2. Getting Around Avignon
- Walking: The historic center of Avignon, which is enclosed by its magnificent medieval walls, is compact and a true joy to explore on foot.
- Car: A car is essential for exploring the wider and beautiful Provence region, including the Luberon villages and the Pont du Gard.
3. Must-See Sights
- Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes): The magnificent and colossal 14th-century Gothic palace is the largest in the world and a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. It is an absolute must-see.
- Pont d’Avignon (Pont Saint-Bénézet): The famous and iconic medieval bridge, of which only four of the original twenty-two arches remain today, immortalized in the famous children’s song.
- Rocher des Doms: A beautiful and serene hilltop park located right next to the palace, offering breathtaking and panoramic views of the Rhône River, the Pont d’Avignon, and the surrounding countryside.
- Place de l’Horloge: The city’s lively and beautiful main square, which is lined with cafes and is home to the magnificent 19th-century city hall and the opera house.
3. Must-See Sights
- Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes): The magnificent and colossal 14th-century Gothic palace, the largest in the world.
- Pont d’Avignon (Pont Saint-Bénézet): The famous and iconic medieval bridge, of which only four arches remain today.
- Rocher des Doms: A beautiful hilltop park next to the palace, offering breathtaking, panoramic views of the Rhône River.
- Place de l’Horloge: The city’s lively main square, with its beautiful city hall and opera house.
4. Unique Experiences
- Explore the Les Halles Market: A vibrant and bustling indoor food market that is famous for its unique and magnificent, living green wall on its exterior, designed by the botanist Patrick Blanc.
- Go Wine Tasting in Châteauneuf-du-Pape: Take a short and scenic drive to one of the world’s most famous and prestigious wine appellations, renowned for its powerful and complex red wines.
- Discover Villeneuve-lès-Avignon: Explore this charming and historic town just across the river, with its magnificent fortress (Fort Saint-André) that offers stunning views of Avignon.
- Visit the Pont du Gard: A spectacular and incredibly well-preserved three-tiered Roman aqueduct, a true masterpiece of ancient engineering and a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, just a short drive away.
4. Unique Experiences
- Explore the Les Halles Market: A vibrant and bustling indoor food market with a unique, living green wall on its exterior.
- Go Wine Tasting in Châteauneuf-du-Pape: Take a short drive to one of the world’s most famous and prestigious wine appellations.
- Discover Villeneuve-lès-Avignon: Explore this charming and historic town just across the river, with its magnificent fortress.
- Visit the Pont du Gard: A spectacular and incredibly well-preserved three-tiered Roman aqueduct, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
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