Rue de la Republique (Republic Street), Avignon

Republic Street is one of Avignon’s main thoroughfares, stretching about 390 meters through the historic center. Lined with shops, cafés, and elegant 19th-century buildings, it connects Clock Square with Cours Jean Jaurès, which leads toward the railway station.

Start at Clock Square, one of Avignon’s liveliest gathering spots. Here, you'll see the Town Hall, recognizable by its historic clock tower, and the Avignon Opera Theatre with its imposing neoclassical façade.

From the square, head south along Republic Street, leaving the Town Hall behind you. As you walk, admire the elegant 19th-century façades lining both sides of the street.

Along the way, look for a small square featuring a bust of Frédéric Mistral, the celebrated Provençal poet who championed the region’s language and culture.

Continue south and watch for the Paul Pamard Fountain, topped with a bronze statue of the former mayor who oversaw the street’s construction between 1856 and 1867. Originally called Cours Bonaparte, the boulevard was developed following the arrival of the railway in 1853, providing a direct connection between the station and the city center. It received its present name in 1870.

Farther along, at number 27, look to your left for the Lapidary Museum. Easily recognizable by its impressive Baroque façade, this former 17th-century Jesuit chapel now houses archaeological collections, including ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, inscriptions, and funerary monuments.

Continue straight onto the tree-lined Cours Jean Jaurès. On your left, you'll find Agricol Perdiguier Square, a peaceful public garden occupying the former site of the Saint-Martial cloister. Step inside to see its surviving Gothic architectural remains, surrounded by trees and flowerbeds.

Back on Cours Jean Jaurès, continue south past the Tourist Office and the former Hautpoul Barracks, now part of the Administrative City, a complex of government offices.

Your walk down the street ends at the Gate of the Republic, an imposing opening through Avignon’s medieval city walls. Pass through the gate, and you'll find the central railway station directly ahead.