Le Magnan occupies 63 Rue Portail Magnanen, on the southern side of the walled city, and the Palais des Papes is about a twelve-minute walk away. It is a three-star hotel that appeals to travellers who want a quiet street, a garden and a terrace instead of a grand lobby. Seven room types give some choice, and air conditioning is standard, which is useful in the summer months. A buffet breakfast is served for an extra charge and can be taken outside on the terrace when the weather is kind. Parking is limited and carries a nightly fee, so ask about a space before you arrive if you are driving. The hotel has no pool or restaurant, which keeps the focus on being a calm place to sleep and recharge after a day of sightseeing, with the cafes and restaurants of the old town a short stroll away. The nearby Rue des Teinturiers, once the street of the town's dyers, runs along a canal lined with plane trees and old waterwheels, and it is one of the most atmospheric walks in the city, only a few minutes from the door.
Location and getting around
The Portail Magnanen is one of the old gates on the south-eastern side of the ramparts, so you are inside the walls, near the edge of the old town and away from the most crowded streets. The palace, the Place de l'Horloge and the covered market of Les Halles are all within a walk of ten to fifteen minutes, and the railway station is close enough for easy train trips to Arles, Nîmes and Orange. In the evening the streets around the hotel are quieter than those around the main squares, which suits couples and light sleepers.
Rooms and facilities
Seven room types mean it is worth reading the room descriptions when you book, and asking for a garden-facing room if you prefer calm. The garden and terrace are the heart of the hotel, giving you somewhere to sit with a book or a glass of wine at the end of the day.
Air conditioning is available, breakfast is a buffet at an additional charge and parking is limited with a fee. As with many small hotels in historic towns, the building has some character quirks, and rooms may differ in size, so describe your priorities when you reserve.
Who it suits
Couples, solo travellers and small families who want a relaxed, reasonably priced base in the old town will find it a good fit. It is a stronger choice for people who are happy to walk and eat out than for those who want hotel dining, a pool or spa services. If you want to be right at the palace gate, the Mercure or La Mirande are closer, and if you want a pool, look at the Cloître Saint Louis or the Grand Hotel.
For a quiet corner with a garden and the old dyers' street on your doorstep, Le Magnan is a quietly appealing option, and rates outside the festival month are often modest.
Why stay here
- ✓Garden
- ✓Terrace
- ✓Air conditioning
- ✓Seven room types
- ✓Buffet breakfast
- ✓Limited parking
- ✓Quiet residential street
- ✓Short walk to the palace
Good questions
How far is Le Magnan from the Palais des Papes?+
About a twelve-minute walk inside the old town.
Does Le Magnan have a garden and parking?+
Yes, it has a garden and terrace. Parking is limited and charged per night, so ask about a space before you arrive.
Does the hotel have a restaurant or pool?+
No. It is a quiet place to stay with a buffet breakfast available, and the old town has many restaurants nearby.
