Today, Avignon is a city of lively peace. It's a city of students, tourists, and artists of every kind.
The Place de l'Horloge is the center-point from where you can participate in the soul of the city. Avignon's Festival in July is one of the most famous cultural manifestations in France, attracting artists and visitors from all over the world.
There's much more to Avignon than the papal palace and the festival artists. True, in Roman times, Avignon (or "Avenio" = town of the strong wind -- indeed the mistral here can be most forceful) was insignificant by comparison to Arles or Marseille. You'll find few Roman ruins in the city. Its rich history stems from the papal legacy and its spoils, such as the Petit Palais, a former palace for cardinals, now a delightful museum of medieval art, or the Cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-Doms.
