Avignon, the historic seat of the papacy and capital of Vaucluse, is an exceptional medieval city that preserves its 14th-century pontifical splendor intact within complete walls unique in France. With the majestic Palace of the Popes overlooking the Rhône, the legendary Avignon Bridge, world-renowned theater festivals and preserved Provençal authenticity, Avignon combines historical grandeur, cultural effervescence and Mediterranean dolce vita. Its cobbled streets, colorful markets, terraces under century-old plane trees and proximity to the treasures of the Luberon and the Alpilles create an authentic Provençal experience where papal history mixes with the art of living of the French Midi.