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Rhone Valley, France in August on Sunday and Monday

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Hi, my husband and I will be traveling to France in August and I am trying to plan around Sunday and Monday as I know a lot is closed. I was thinking Friday/Saturday to stay in Provence (gordes), hit up the market at isle sur la sorgue on our way out of town, stay Sunday night in Avignon and then Mon-Thurs is Vaison la romaine. My main question is...besides the main tourist attractions are restaurants open for business Sunday in Avignon and are wineries open Monday in the southern rhone region? I already know I have to be ahead of the game for booking dinner in Vaison la romaine Monday as a lot is closed.

Thank you in advance,

Kim

Posted by
2916 posts

Since Avignon is a good size city, there should be plenty of open restaurants on Sunday. For wineries, the closing days are generally Sunday and sometimes Saturday. Most are open on Mondays. I've visited many on Mondays everywhere.

Posted by
898 posts

You’re right to plan around this. I was pretty shocked by how Avignon shut down on a Sunday. Most recommended places were closed, and what was open was full and/or not very good. You’d be well served to book in advance. Or maybe you just stock up on goodies at the market Saturday and have a little night in. Honestly, if you’re only staying a night there you may just want to skip Avignon altogether. It was probably my least favorite place in Europe. The Papal Palace is a bust. I thought Arles was a lot more interesting. I’m pumped you’ll be in Vaison for the market day, it’s incredible!

Posted by
8101 posts

LOL. The first other person I have found who agrees with me about Avignon. The papal palace is as interesting as a parking garage which it resembles since it has long since been stripped of anything that made its interior interesting. It is of course interesting historically but this was one of our least favorite stops in France. We found Arles on the other hand quite interesting:
https://janettravels.wordpress.com/2016/11/20/quick-stop-in-arles/
And much along the Riviera is interesting. The Ardecche is beautiful and the faux cave replica of the Chauvet cave worth the effort.

Posted by
2 posts

Thank you all so much for your responses. This is very helpful. We’ll have to discuss Avignon vs Arles and glad to know the wineries will be ok to visit on Monday!

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