Every year in July, Avignon becomes a city-theater, transforming its architectural heritage into various majestic and surprising performance venues, welcoming tens of thousands of theater-lovers of all ages. The Festival manages to bring together a popular audience and cutting-edge international creation.

What festival takes place in Avignon?

The Festival d’Avignon
The Festival d’Avignon, or Avignon Festival, is an annual arts festival held in the French city of Avignon every summer in July in the courtyard of the Palais des Papes as well as in other locations of the city. Founded in 1947 by Jean Vilar, it is the oldest existent festival in France and one of the world’s greatest.

Why is the festival D Avignon celebrated?

Every year in July, Avignon becomes a city-theater, transforming its architectural heritage into various majestic and surprising performance venues, welcoming tens of thousands of theater-lovers of all ages. The Festival manages to bring together a popular audience and cutting-edge international creation.

What do you do in the Avignon Festival?

Event in Avignon Many of the spectators are on holiday and come from far away, spending several days in Avignon and seeing a few of the shows from the forty or so works of theatre, dance, visual arts and music. The festival is a successful, original alliance between a mainstream audience and international creativity.

What is Avignon known for?

Avignon is famous as it is the city to which the Popes fled when leaving the corruption of Rome in the 14th century. The palace they built, ‘Le Palais des Papes,’ or the palace of popes, is the world’s largest Gothic edifice.

How long is the Avignon Festival?

attending. During the 4 weeks of the festival, the living arts take over the city, theatres flourish in the bosom of the city, sometimes in some improbable locations, and the number of shows offered may seem inordinate to the simple spectator.

What is Avignon most famous for today?

Why should I visit Avignon?

Culture and history converge in the west of Provence, as the small city of Avignon leaves a big impression. Its medieval streets and historic buildings have inspired everyone from Catholic popes to dancing schoolchildren, with both a bridge and a palace deemed worthy of Unesco’s prestigious World Heritage status.

What is Avignon best known for?