Avignon is one of those places in Europe where the visitors just can't have enough
of it and keep coming back for more. Its history dates back to the Roman era in
the 5th century AD and it is one of those rare towns that have wonderfully preserved
its rich heritage and culture.
Are you're one of those late night party goers or a middle aged opera lover, or
somewhere in between the two, you name it and you have it! There is something
for each and every one to enjoy and be entertained! There are plenty of venues
for entertainment aimed directly at tourists.
- Nightlife in Avignon
After the sun goes down, one seeking entertainment in Avignon can chose from sedate
restaurants at one end of the scale to lively discotheques at the other. Bars
of every kind can be found across the city and offer very relaxed licensing hours,
meaning that it's quite possible to find somewhere to get a beer or a good glass
of wine well after midnight.
Nightclubs are equally relaxed and tend to open around 23:00, get going after
midnight and close around 04:00 or 05:00. Some of the city's liveliest nightspots
are:-
» Place du Palais,
» Place des Corps-Saints,
» Place de l'Horloge
» The hip and trendy rue Carnot.
It's worth noting that Avignon has some 20 cinemas with venues screening both
mainstream and independent movies. Pathé Cap Sud, the 10 screen multiplex
on rue Pierre Seghers is the city's biggest cinema venue and screens all the latest
releases while Cinéma Utopia, at La Manutention arts centre is the place
to catch foreign movies.
- Theatre and music in Avignon
If you are a lover of theatre and music then Avignon is the biggest entertainer
of all, with its yearly festival heralded as France's oldest and most famous cultural
event. The city has around 10 permanent traditional theatre venues. Some popular
ones are:-
» Théâtre du Chêne Noir on rue Ste-Catherine;
» Théâtre du Chien qui Fume on rue des Teinturiers;
» Théâtre des Halles on rue
» Noël Biret; and
» Théâtre des Carmes on Place des Carmes.
For music, you can catch performances at the theatres or there's the Opéra
d'Avignon, set in a classic old building dating back to 1847 and overlooking the
Place de l'Horloge. The opera house has a season running from October to June
and presents performances in classical and chamber music as well as theatre and
ballet.
- Festivals celebrated in Avignon:-
Avignon goes culture mad each summer at July's Festival d'Avignon, when Europe's
best theatre (and also music, circus and dance) is performed in every nook and
cranny of the city, from the Palais des Papes' courtyard, to 18th-century mansions,
old convent buildings and secret gardens.
Once you are in Avignon, the city takes the charge to entertain you at the best,
so be assured to be swept off your feet and have an experience of a life-time!
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