When we rocked up to the historic city of Avignon for a short day trip during our journey around Provence, we had no idea we would stumble upon its famous art festival. In fact, we knew nothing about the Avignon Festival until we strolled onto its busy streets.
It turns out the Avignon Festival is rather famous. Founded in 1947, it is the biggest theatre event in France. It is, I suspect, the country’s version of the Edinburgh festival. Running from early July to early August, large scale performances are held in a variety of majestic venues including Avignon’s famous Papal Palace (Palais des Papes).
But it is on the streets of Avignon where the unofficial ‘fringe’ festival takes over, livening up its piazzas and pathways with around 400 performances a day. We saw costumed actors in thick make-up roam the streets in the sweltering heat handing out flyers and breaking into character every now and then to perform a segment from their show. Costumes from all eras and countries graced the cobbled roads: from 18th century dress to Japanese geishas and even Mickey Mouse. The line up is undoubtably eclectic.
Although we were only there for a few hours, it was a pleasure to soak up the sights and sounds of the Avignon Festival out on the streets. Having visited the city a few years back, we weren’t there to diligently sightsee so had the luxury of taking in the festival atmosphere and I snapped away with my SLR at some of the performers and streets littered with posters. If I hadn’t visited before I may conclude that Avignon had a bit of a litter problem. Here’s a taste of what I saw.
We were treated to a short dance performance from the Marriage of Figaro as we ate ice cream outside the Palais des Papes.
This female performer was covered head to toe in green body paint.
Actors perform amongst shoppers on Avignon’s bustling main street
This magnificent carousel was a big hit with my daughter while performers dressed as Japanese geishas wandered past
Posters are hung across the city in any way possible.
Everywhere you looked there was someone dressed in costume, usually handing out flyers.
Visitors watch an actor perform on the streets of Avignon.
My hubby with our 7-week-old daughter wander past some of the festival’s posters.
A steel drummer performs to passersby.
Posters litter the streets of Avignon…
Even on Avignon’s ancient walls.
Where there is space, a poster is pinned.
A building is overtaken by festival posters.
Have you ever visited Avignon during its festival? Or stumbled across an unexpected festival on your travels?
How lovely for you-a nice bit of happenstance serendipity 🙂 and possibly a lot more temperate than Edinburghs fringe.
Alex recently posted…A Kiddie Mini-Break in Nottingham
Oh yes, a lot more. It was a very happy coincidence to come across it.
I just love when we stumble upon a festival or event! That happened to us when we visited Wurzburg and Rothenburg we ran into the Volksfest and they were carrying the beer on wagons through the town!
It was fun to see so many interesting costumes! I especially enjoyed the walked tree haha #CityTripping
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Avignon looks really pretty and quaint, the festival looked great fun! #CityTripping x
Avignon is beautiful.
Those posters look somewhat overwhelming! Definitely reminds me of Edinburgh (but perhaps with more sun). Love the way the streets come alive with festivals, such a good vibe. And your wee girl seems to be taking it all in her stride.
#citytripping
tots2travel recently posted…Glasgow with Children- Tots2Travel’s Top Places
Ha – YES – there was LOTS of sun, it was boiling, I don’t know how the actors coped in all those costumes and make-up. x
How lucky to stumble across the festival, stumbling across green painted street artists is good when you are expecting it but most be extra special when you are not!
#citytripping
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Haha, totally. There were some very interesting costumes on the streets!
Well that’s a great thing to stumble upon! Was it a day tour from somewhere? Is it not recommended to stay for a couple of days in Avignon?
Noemi of Pinay Flying High recently posted…Doha, Qatar | Taste of Hakkasan
We stopped by as it was on our way as we travelled between lodgings. I would definitely recommend a couple of days there. We stayed for two nights in Avignon a few years back…a fair bit to see and a beautiful city!
Sounds like an unexpectedly entertaining time! #citytripping
It was, thank you. x
I haven’t been to Avignon, it looks like a pretty place and it would be so interesting to visit when the festival is on!
Mellissa recently posted…Luxury Linen From The World Of Frette
It’s a beautiful place – thoroughly recommend visiting.
Ooh I love Avignon. That looks like so much fun. I am starting to become obsessed with those carousels. I am so glad they have stood the test of time. They are so beautiful and ornate and you cant help but smile when you see one
I know – it’s great to see how popular they still are. My daughter is mad about them!
Looks wonderful, so great when you stumble across something like this by chance. I love Avignon and is little brother across the Rhone, Villeneuve.
Ah, I’ve not been to Villeneuve. I love that part of the world – totally smitten!
What a fabulous festival in a beautiful location! I love the costumed actors.
Gorgeous location!
What fun! It’s just lovely when you turn up to a spectacle like this. The unexpectedness makes it so much more special. #citytripping
Clare Thomson (Suitcases and Sandcastles) recently posted…Why you should see the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy
It really does!
Very neat, so many artists! Great photos 🙂 #citytripping
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Thanks Christie
I’ve recently read a post about this theater festival. it seems great! I did come across a few festival happenings in my travels.it was fun! #city tripping
Tanja (the Red phone box travels) recently posted…Visiting a chocolate museum
Ah, good to see someone else has heard about the festival. It looked brilliant. x
This looks like a blast! I haven’t read much on Avignon or the festival but it seems like fun! #citytripping
Lindsay recently posted…Weekly Photo Recap: Baltimore Pride
It was really fun thanks Lindsay. x
I have never heard of Avignon so thanks much for sharing! Don’t see myself heading to France anytime soon either. It takes a lot of effort to fly the whole family so far away without much work leave on hand from the daddy. Oh that Palais and the carousel! How how how grand! I won’t be able to resist myself from snapping lots of photographs! #citytripping
The carousel was awesome! France is a pretty long flight from Singapore!
What an amazing festival to stumble upon during your trip! Those are definitely my favourite kind of travel moments. The posters I could have done without though – talk about overkill! Other than that, I love all the creativity and artistry unleashed on to the streets.
Lauren Bishop recently posted…A City Of Inspiration: Dubrovnik, Croatia
Yes, definitely – a great travel moment to remember. The posters were pretty full on!
What fabulous photos – I have been to Avignon (a long time ago) and it’s so beautiful, so much history, but I would have loved to have stumbled across this festival. #citytripping
Cathy (MummyTravels) recently posted…City Tripping #37
It was a lovely surprise and made the visit even more interesting.
Oh wha fun that must have been to see! I’ve never been to Avignon before nor have I been to Edinburgh during the festival but I have been to Grahamstown in South Africa during their arts festival. #CityTripping
Oh fantastic! Avignon is a beautiful place!
I don’t think I’ve ever stumbled upon a festival during my travels, but my husband and I definitely went out of our way to be in NYC for July 4th and France for July 14th this year. It’s always fun getting to experience a holiday in a different culture and see what they do for it.
Any idea what was going on with the Japanese geishas? That seems an odd thing to come across in France…
Mandy recently posted…A Walk Through Savannah, GA
Well planned. Really good to be in the midst of a national festival. The Japanese geishas were part of the festival..there were all sorts of costumed people on the streets. x
I love Avignon – so much fun to be had, and so pretty…
Lydia C. Lee recently posted…Sunday in my city – Whale Watching
It’s a beautiful city!
The carousel will definitely by a hit with my boys too! How interesting to see geishas in Avignon.. Lol… I’ve stumbled upon small Japanese festivals pretty often during my trips to Japan.. Love them!! I love the life that festivals bring the cities! #CityTripping
Bumble Bee Mum recently posted…Hokkaido Self-Drive Trip (June 2016) Part 4: Asahikawa – Sounkyo – Shiretoko
Definitely! The city was buzzing.The carousel was the best I’ve seen – it had two levels! I would love to come across a Japanese festival – I hear they have quite a few over there.
I had no idea there was such a large festival in Avignon. Interesting to see how much people participate and are involved in these activities.
Brooke of Passport Couture recently posted…The Wonderful Things About Cousins
I hadn’t! If we had been staying longer it would have been good to see some of the performances (although with them being told French, they may have been a bit lost on me).
I really like when you visit a place and “bump” into an interesting celebration. Looks like Avignon takes their festival very seriously. It should have been great to see all those people in costume in a city like this.
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It’s the best, isn’t it? The festival had really taken over the ancient streets and was a delight to be part of the buzz.
That’s lovely – to stumble upon a theatre festival on a day trip. Enjoyed your photos of the fringe events taking place at the Avignon festival.
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Love the photos, so colourful. Looks like a fantastic festival, well worth the visit #CityTripping
It really was – a great experience.
I love the ‘fringe’ part of events like this, you see such extraordinary people – and I’ve seen a person in green with all those leaves in Rome as well!Looks like a great event. #citytripping
Haha, clearly a festival is not complete without a human tree! It was great to see such colourful characters wandering around.
Way to make your Avignon visit memorable! Back in the UK we stumbled across Bristol Harbour Fesival – a citywide music, drama and food event. It was all by complete chance. We had no idea where to go for our first wedding anniversary and Bristol came up in conversation. It was only when we got there, checked into our hotel and walked out to find some food that we discovered the festival. What luck!
Oh how great Claire! Sounds brilliant! I loved it, felt like I was part of something special.
ah the harbour festival! ive lived near Bristol ten years now and STILL not been! #citytripping
Haha – sometimes it’s the places closest to us which we can overlook.
sounds and looks fantastic! and look at your daughter -7 weeks! #citytripping
I know! She’s growing up. x
I love stumbling upon an unexpected festival when I visit a place. Reminds me very much of a trip to Quebec city which was full of people dressed in costume on the day we arrived.
I have never been to Avignon, although my son did once on a school exchange visit so he’s one up on me!
#mondayescapes
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How wonderful – maybe it’s something a bit French! What a great exchange trip…you must go – he can show you around!
Sadly we’ve never really travelled anywhere in France but hopefully in time :). Although I have been to the Edinburgh fringe! Which was fab. Love the pictures, there’s something about a city in the middle of a festival it’s so enchanting!! #CityTripping xx
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Thank you. You know, I’ve never made it to Edinburgh Fringe! Really need to one day!
What a bit of luck! We’ve happened into a few small festivals while traveling and it just makes everything so much more fun. I love all the pictures of the performers and my kids would love that carousel! #MondayEscapes
Thanks Elizabeth. It certainly gives another dimension to a place. The carousel was a big hit!
Looks like fun! 7 weeks old! Oh, bless! 🙂
Thank you x
What a fun festival! I still haven’t been to Avignon, but would love to, all pictures I see show a gorgeous place.
Ohhh my, 7 weeks old and already traveling the world, I love it!! <3
Happy to have you on #MondayEscapes 😀
Packing my Suitcase recently posted…Formula 1 Grand Prix in Hockenheim 2016
I know Allane, have to start them young! x
I’ve never been to the Avignon Festival, in fact it’s years since I was last over that way (we live in SW France). But it’s on my bucket list. Thanks for giving us a taste of it in your great photo-tour.
DOH. I keep forgetting to add #AllAboutFrance
Thanks for stopping by. It was a really interesting experience.
Reading your post took me back to the old streets of Avignon and warm summer days. Thanks for the photo tour, I cannot wait for the 2017 festival.
You are welcome. Thanks for stopping by!
What a great atmosphere! I live so close to Avignon but never seem to make it for the festival. I think I’ve gotten into the local habit of hiding from the heat during the summer months. No excuses next year!!
Haha – I don’t blame you – it gets incredibly hot!
Avignon is such an eye-catching place on a normal day, the festival dresses it up in color, fascination and style. I love it there!
Cheers to this lovely photo album, all the details captured for us to enjoy.
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Glad you enjoyed it! I agree, the festival gave another dimension to what is already a beautiful city.
Even though your visit to the festival was not planned, I think you did a great job of capturing the feel of the event! This is a classic must do for anyone in the area during the festival – just make sure to book your hotel well in advance and remember the streets will be closed off to cars.
Thank you – is it – wow I am really glad I stumbled across it, just a shame we didn’t get to absorb it for a bit longer.
Avignon is relatively close to me and I’ve been but not at Festival time. Living where I do I have heard of it, and seeing your fun photos makes me think we really should try and get there next year. It’s only about 2.5 hours drive which is nothing! As for stumbling across festivals, we were in Kotor (Montenegro) for unexpected Carnival (completely different time from carnival in the rest of the world, hence unexpected) and it was WILD! It was by a long way the noisiest experience I’ve ever had. Something I’ll never forget. Thanks for linking up to #AllAboutFrance
Oh wow – that sounds amazing Phoebe! I shall have to remember that when I eventually make it to Montenegro! It was interesting to see the Avignon festival…you should check it out sometime.
I stumbled into the middle of the Festival too this year & was enchanted by the way it took hold of the city. I still find myself humming a tune being sung by one theatre grioup as they pushed a wheelchair around the streets advertising their version of the Molière play ‘Le Malade Imaginaire’ – nor can I get over the huge number of posters that were hung to every possible building, fence & lamp-post. Next year I think I’ll plan more of a visit rather than just turn up by chance!
How funny that you did too. It’s crazy, isn’t it but such a great atmosphere. You should definitely do it next year!
This looks like a warm version of the Edinburgh festival perhaps? How entertaining. You’ve captured the atmosphere.
Thank you! Yes, it felt like a sunnier alternative to Edinburgh!
Lovely photos of an incredible festival. I went a few years ago and loved it (despite some pretty bad car troubles!) #allaboutfrance
Oh, glad you enjoyed it – and managed to get there! That sounds like an interesting travel story.