Madrid

Avignon Tgv

The Avignon Gare TGV is located approximately 5.5 km outside the city centre. The train station is serviced by TGV and offers direct access to Paris, Charles de Gaulle Airport, Lille, Nantes, Rouen, Metz, Montpellier, Geneva, Brussels, Lyon, Marne, Rennes, Toulouse and Strath Fort. In the summer, Thalys has established a seasonal connection with Avignon. There is a bus connected to the city centre. A variety of services are available at and around the train station: SNCF rail agents, parking lots, ATMs, traveler assistance and more.

This station has two train stations and two straight lines. This makes it impossible to pass the train at Avignon at full speed, but away from the passenger platform.

The station was completed in 2001 and was designed by the architectural cabinet of the SNCF under the direction of Jean-Marie Duthilleul and Jean-François Blassel. It has a 340 m (1,115 ft) long glass roof compared to the cathedral.

Trains operating in and from the station: High speed train (TGV) service: SNCF rail agents, disabled and junior traveller assistance, lost and found, toilets, luggage storage, Wi-Fi internet, ATM and telephone cabin. Traffic and connections Local trains and metros: Avignon does not have a metro station. Bus: Navette TGV to the city centre. Taxi: Taxi Avignonais. Airport: There is no connection to any international airport.

Madrid

City Overview

Madrid is not as colorful as Barcelona. It is not as old-fashioned as London, and there is no infinite prosperity in Paris. In the eyes of many travelers, she is even a bit unremarkable. As the capital of Spain and the largest city, people can experience the blend of classical and modern in Madrid, experience football culture, bullfight culture, feel the influence of the Spanish royal family on the lives of the people, or linger in museums or taste all over Spain. Gourmet.

Must visit attractions

Prado Museum Museo del Prado

The Prado Museum is one of the best museums in the world and is the most visited attraction in Madrid. It is the best work in the history of Spanish art from the 16th to the 19th centuries, such as the works of Velázquez, Goya, Greco, and of course a large collection of works by foreign Renaissance painters, such as Venice, Italy. Titian of the painting school, Rubens of the German Baroque, Jeronimos Boss of the Dutch surrealist, and so on. The total number of works in the museum is now 27,509, of which 7,825 are oil paintings, and the number is dazzling.

Transportation: Take Metro Line 2 to Banco de España or Metro Line 1 to Atocha Station.  

Madrid Royal Palace

The Royal Palace of Madrid is the largest royal palace in Western Europe, with 3,418 rooms inside, each with its own character. There are a lot of beautiful oil paintings, collectibles, weapons, porcelain, watches, gold and silver items. One of the most important works is the five-piece violin made by Antonio Stradivari, one of the greatest string instrument makers in history, and exhibited in the concert hall of the Royal Library. In addition, there are collections of paintings by the famous Spanish painter Velázquez and Goya, and the paintings of the famous Italian Baroque painter Caravaggio.

Until today, the palace is still the official royal residence.   Transportation: Take Metro Lines 2 and 5 to Ópera Station and head west to cross the Royal Opera House and Oriental Plaza.

Puerta del Sol Puerta del Sol

The square originated as a gate of Madrid in the 15th century, named after the city facade in the direction of the rising sun. The earliest building on the square was the old postal building of the 18th century, today the government building of the Madrid Autonomous Region, which was the National Security Headquarters during the Franco period. It may be worthwhile to pay attention to the semi-elliptical dark windows in the lower part of the building. This year was the prison for the recidivism against Franco. On the ground near the road in front of the building, it is the “zero kilometer” sign, which is the center of the Spanish national road network.

Transportation: You can choose to take the subway lines 1, 2 and 3 and get off at the Sol station.   

Gourmet & Accommodation & Shopping

Gourmet

As a capital, you can taste delicacies from all over Spain in addition to the local specialties stewed beef, Castilian soup, Segovia roast suckling pig, Valencia paella, even Spain Basque cuisine in the north. Restaurants and taverns are everywhere, and the palace and the Puerta are the most dense.

Accommodation

There are a lot of hostels in Madrid, ranging from general-purpose B&Bs to high-end five-star hotels. Many mid-priced hotels, concentrated in Puerta del Sol to the Gulangwei Avenue, are popular with young tourists and are close to Atocha Railway Station. Large hotels are very convenient for travelers who travel to the suburbs for a day trip.  

Shopping

Madrid's main shopping districts are concentrated in the area around Puerta del Sol to the Ka Yao Plaza and around Serrano Street. There are a variety of affordable fashion stores near the Puerta del Sol, in line with the general public's consumer market; as for Serrano Street, it is the world of famous boutiques, and it is often seen that locals dressed in Chinese costumes shop here.

Urban traffic

Public transportation in the city of Madrid is very convenient. Metro, intercity trains, buses, night trains, light rails, etc. form a complete transportation network, which can be used to reach the destination in the day or night.

The length of the Madrid Metro is second only to London in Europe. It currently has 12 lines, 3 light rails, and the R-line connecting the city centre Ópera station and the Príncipe Pío station. Each line is labeled with a different color to facilitate passengers. You can check the line, timetable, transfer and other information on the official website. Download the PDF version of the map, click: www.metromadrid.es

Running time: Monday to Sunday 6:05 - 2:00 am the next day. During the peak period (8:00-22:00), the interval between departures is 3-4 minutes, and the frequency of departures at night and weekends is reduced, and the interval can be up to 15 minutes.

Tickets: 1.5-2 Euro for a single ticket (0.1 Euro per station after 5 stations), 12.2 Euros for 10 tickets, and 5 Euros for the 8th line to and from the airport.

Avignon

City Overview

Avignon (known as Avignon in Taiwan), she is a world famous historical and cultural city, the heart of Provence, also known as the "Church of the Pope." It is also home to the Avignon Theatre Festival, a world-famous theatre festival, which is a sacred place for theatre lovers every July. Not far from the east of Avignon, it is the backdrop of the book "The Year of the Mountain" - Luberon, with its distinctive towns and lavender fields; the city to the west It was the Saint-Rémy-de-provence where Van Gogh lived, the sunflowers depicted in his paintings, and many Roman ruins, such as the Pont dugard and the Nimes Arena. Arènes de Nîmes); the north of the city is the new darling of wine lovers in recent years - Pope Newcastle.

Avignon is surrounded by ancient walls, with attractions concentrated in the walls, and walking or taking a small train is the best way to explore the city. What must not be missed is the Papal Palace and the Broken Bridge (St. Benezer Bridge). Walking through the streets, visitors of different colors and races and different costumes become a unique landscape. Street crowds come and go, and the corner of the street is a quiet and peaceful atmosphere. The style of Provence is also perfectly interpreted in this small town of South France.

Must visit attractions

• ##### Palace of the Palais des Papes

The Palais is an ancient palace located in the southern French city of Avignon, the largest and most important medieval Gothic building in Europe. The Palais des Papes is not only the palace of the pope but also a fortress. During the fourteenth century, the Avignon Papal Palace was the seat of the Catholic Church. Six times in the history of the Pope's election was held in the Avignon Papal Palace, which selected Benedict XII (1334), Clemens VI (1342), and Enochianjue VI ( 1352), Urbano V (1362), I Am XI (1370) and Benedict XIII (1394, the opposite Pope).

Address: 6, rue Pente Rapide, 84000Avignon, France   * ##### Saint-Beneze Bridge Pont St-bénézet

The name of the broken bridge is St. Bennett Bridge, which is a famous bridge in the Middle Ages. Originally built between 1171 and 1185, the bridge spans the Rhone River and serves as the new city of Avignon connecting Avignon and the left bank. The original length was about 900 meters, but due to frequent flooding, the risk factor continued to increase. After the devastating flood in 1668, most of the bridge was destroyed and finally stopped. Since then it has been abandoned and no one has tried to fix it. The surviving bridge arches have also been collapsed or demolished. The original 22 bridge arches have only survived today and become today's "broken bridges". At the entrance to the bridge, there is an exhibition of “Bridge History”, which introduces the world's cultural heritage bridges; there is also an exhibition on the restoration of broken bridges.

Transportation: You can choose to take the Navette Remparts and get off at Pont St-bénézet.

• ##### Cathedral of Our Lady of Avignon Cathédrale Notre-Dame des Doms

Located next to the Papal Palace, the Cathedral of Our Lady was rebuilt in the mid-twelfth century and is the oldest religious building in Avignon. The church has a bell tower with a total of 35 clocks. It is said that the sound of the French bell tower is the second loudest. Each bell has its own name. Because the size is different, the sound is different. Now the clocks in the clock tower were all cast after the French Revolution, and the previous bells were all melted into cannons. Next to the Cathedral of Our Lady is the Le Jardin du rocher des Doms, the birthplace of Avignon's history. Today it is a public park and a great place for a walk.

Transportation: You can choose to take the bus 1/3/4/6/9/12 and the environmentally friendly car Baladine to get off at Place du palais.   

Gourmet & Accommodation & Shopping

• ##### Gourmet

How can you not try the famous bouillabaisse in Provence? This one Michelin star restaurant is a well-known local restaurant that can taste authentic Marseille fish soup. Although it is next to the Palais, it is easy to miss because I can't see the name of the restaurant.

• ##### Accommodation

Avignon is a large city in the westernmost province of the Provence region. It is easily accessible and is suitable for towns that are considered to be Provencal locations, and then take a daily ride to the towns and cities of Provence. The popular Avignon train station is close to important attractions. Most hotels have parking lots and are conveniently located as a base for people planning to explore the area with cars.

• ##### Shopping

There aren't many big shopping malls in Provence. It's very uneconomical to shop here. But Provence has a lot of specialties, which are suitable for bringing back as a commemoration or a gift, scattered in the street shop, and not The big market is the hallmark of this place. Les Halles is the largest market in Avignon, closed every Monday and all the time. The market is always north of the Republic Avenue, not far from the old railway station. Come to the market and just stroll around, you can buy a lot of special products for a small amount of money, and you can buy your favorite things with cheap and affordable prices. There are also many stalls selling old books and old records in the market. Friends who like to dig things can not miss it. Maybe they can find what they like.

Urban traffic

The centre of Avignon is small in size and the main attractions are in the city centre. So the city centre tour is within walking distance. Strolling through the ancient city of Millennium and watching the wonderful street art is also a pleasure in travel. However, due to the small size of the city center, most hotels and hotels are located outside the city center, so going to the city center in addition to taxis, taking the bus is one of the most economical and convenient ways. It is especially important to note that after you see your car coming, you must wave the driver to stop. When you arrive at the station, press the Stop button in the car to tell the driver that you want to get off.