For sheer convenience, the Mercure Pont d'Avignon Centre is hard to beat. Its address on Rue Ferruce puts the Palais des Papes and the Pont Saint-Bénézet about a hundred metres away, so your first morning of sightseeing begins almost at the door. It is a four-star hotel in the Mercure chain, with four room types and two suites, and its rooms follow a Provence and Mistral theme, so the decor is tied to the region. Air conditioning is standard, pets are welcome and there is a bar and a shaded terrace for a drink in the evening. A buffet breakfast is served all year in a conservatory, and you can have it in your room if you prefer. There is also a fitness centre, which is useful after a day of cobbled streets. The hotel's own restaurant is open only for groups of fifteen or more, so for dinner you will be walking into the old town, which is a pleasure given how many places are close by.
Location and getting around
The hotel is in the heart of the old town, within sight of the palace and the bridge, and the Place de l'Horloge, the pedestrian shopping streets and many restaurants are a short stroll. The Avignon Centre railway station is roughly a fifteen-minute walk. A car park stands near the property, and guests can use the Palais des Papes car park with a twenty per cent discount arranged at reception, which is a helpful perk since parking inside the walls is limited and the streets are narrow.
The rooms and what is good to know: with only a handful of room types the choice is simple, and the refreshed rooms mean modern bathrooms and clean finishes. Ask for a quieter room away from the street if you are a light sleeper, and note that there is no swimming pool, so in high summer the shaded terrace and the air conditioning do the cooling.
Rates are mid-range and rise with the festival and the summer season, and breakfast is optional. Because it belongs to a well-known chain, the booking process and the standards are predictable, and loyalty members can use their programme.
Who it suits
First-time visitors who want to be next to the main sights, couples on a short break, small families and anyone who values predictability and good air conditioning over a boutique feel. Pet owners will appreciate that animals are welcome. It is a good base for a three-day visit: walk to the palace, the bridge and the gardens each morning, and take day trips by tour or car for the Pont du Gard, Châteauneuf-du-Pape or the Luberon.
For a grander setting, choose La Mirande or the Hôtel d'Europe, and for a smaller, quirkier stay, try the Hôtel Boquier.
Why stay here
- ✓Palace and bridge 100 metres away
- ✓Provence and Mistral themed rooms
- ✓Buffet breakfast in a conservatory
- ✓Air conditioning
- ✓Shaded terrace and bar
- ✓Fitness centre
- ✓Pets welcome
- ✓Discounted palace car park
Good questions
How far is the hotel from the Palais des Papes?+
About 100 metres, so the palace and the Pont d'Avignon are practically next door. It is one of the closest chain hotels to the main sights.
Is there parking?+
A car park is near the hotel, and guests can use the Palais des Papes car park with a discount arranged at reception. Ask about current fees when you book.
Does it have a restaurant or pool?+
There is a bar and a terrace, but the restaurant is open only for groups of fifteen or more, and there is no pool. Many restaurants are within walking distance.
