The French walled city of Avignon is a historic jewel in the south of the country, with its charming churches, monuments and iconic bridge. This pretty city is a great destination for people looking for interesting, culture rich holidays.

Avignon, City of the Popes, was settled initially by the Celts and is thought to have been the site of an ancient hill fort. It became a key city in the Roman Empire and fragments of the huge forum can still be seen near the city's Rue Moliere, but it was later invaded by barbarians and Franks and little more of its ancient heritage survives.

By the end of the 12th century Avignon had declared itself an independent republic, but it was taken by Louis VIII of France and became a key centre for the Catholic Church. Avignon became the residence of the Pope during the 1300s and remaining in papal possession until 1791. The ornate medieval walls built during the papal years are well preserved and a delight to wander around.

Avignon became part of France again following the French Revolution and grew into one of the country's key artistic centres. The small city of around 145,000 people is a popular international venue for holiday makers and can become incredibly crowded in the summer, but has some spectacular sights and museums.

The famous song "Sur le pont d'Avignon" refers to the Saint Benezet Bridge over the Rhone River, which was built in the 12th century. It originally spanned the width of the river and crossed the island of Barthelasse with its 22 arches. Just four of the arches now survive after numerous collapses.

The Palace of the Popes is a towering Gothic building with walls that are more than 17ft thick and has been turned into an excellent museum. The fifteenth-century Palais du Roure and the imposing hotel du Ville, with its intricate clock tower are also key sights. The city is home to some delightful churches, including the Gothic fourteenth-century church of St-Agricol and the vast Cathedrale Notre-Dame-des-Doms.

The many museums and galleries of Avignon are part of its magic, chief of which are the Musee Calvet, housed in an eighteenth century palace, the Musee Vouland, full of beautiful French artefacts and the Petit Palais, with a large collection of art and sculpture.

Avignon has a lively arts scene and one of Europe's top theatre and arts festivals takes place in the city each year, with dance, music, theatre and cinema events. Away from the festival season, Avignon often hosts some excellent opera, classical music concerts and theatre productions and there are a number of good live music venues and nightclubs.

The city has some charming brasseries and cafes, full of delicious French dishes, cakes and pastries. There are several excellent, but pricey, restaurants and a number of smaller and cheaper options. Shopping in the ornate old streets of Avignon can be expensive, but the small shops hold a wealth of delights, from chic clothing to delicate antiques.

Finding accommodation in Avignon itself can be difficult and it is advisable to book well ahead to secure the best or most affordable hotels. The city also has a number of camping sites in its vicinity and there are many places in the south of France from which visitors can pay a trip to Avignon. Flights to the south of France are becoming increasingly cheap and the city is on major rail routes.