Hotel de l'Horloge ★★★★

Surrounded by 800-year old traditional ramparts, Avignon is a pocket of the past in the present day. With an expansive and rich cultural heritage, the city provides a hub for exploring the ancient world in one of France’s most picturesque regions. Characterised by winding, cobblestone streets and captivating boutique stores, Avignon packs a punch both with its charming atmosphere and its deep history waiting to be delved into.

I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for quaint cities with plenty of history embedded deep within the walls, so when I discovered that Avignon ticks both of these boxes, I couldn’t wait to step back in time and wander the streets of a city abundant with rustic, old-world overtures. Passing through the city walls, I imagined fully-armoured guards pacing backwards and forwards, weapons thrown across their shoulders, keeping an eye on the safety of Avignon. Now, that’s not really necessary, and instead the walls are a top attraction in the city, with great views across the burnt umber rooftops and grand, ochre buildings. Snippets of visions from the past came to life throughout my time in the city, as I pictured what it would have been like to live in ancient Avignon. The magnificent buildings that have stood the test of time combined with the battlements and traditional stone floors help paint the scene of a thriving medieval city, so it wasn’t difficult to imagine bustling weekend markets and the sound of horses’ hooves thundering through the streets.

Despite its big history, however, Avignon is a fairly small town saturated with quirky charisma and a homely feel, and this continues into the Hotel de L’Horloge, which sits right in the centre of all the action. It combines the charm and heritage of Avignon with the comfortable, familiar amenities of the present day, like WiFi (anyone else enjoy learning more online after a day of exploring?) and flat screen TVs (one of the reasons I’m thankful that I don’t actually live in the Middle Ages). The hotel opens out onto the Place de L’Horloge – after which it is named – and from here I walked in the footsteps of the past across the famous Bridge, which offers breathtaking views across the city, including the impressive focal point of the Palais des Papes and the great medieval fortress.

As I weaved through the streets of Avignon and, therefore, its historic timeline, I emerged into small, leafy squares where I enjoyed coffee breaks and people-watching, I dipped in and out of the many museums and galleries, and I admired the elegant townhouses and boutique shops. As I wandered, I discovered that Avignon is a relaxing, peaceful town, which nods back to a simpler way of life and a simpler time of living. Again, I was amazed to see this embodied in the Hotel de L’Horloge, too. It was as if the hotel had wrapped up the essence of Avignon and presented it across numerous rooms in a 19th Century townhouse.

The elegant charm was displayed in the rich use of colours; plum curtains, taupe bedding, and white accents; the familiar, homely feel was evident in the welcoming, helpful staff and the gloriously comfortable beds; the plush carpets provided the perfect antidote for feet that had been treading cobblestones all day; and the quirky quaintness was represented in the delightful small touches, like the tea and coffee trays carefully laid out in each room.

I have to say, the Hotel de L’Horloge was as cosy as Avignon itself, tucked tightly between the safe arms of the crumbling old ramparts. The city itself has seen many a sight in its old, fascinating life, and this emanates throughout the labyrinth of curling, twisting alleyways. I wanted a starting point for exploring the Provence region, and got so much more – I also found a starting point for exploring the charm of the medieval world, which is embodied whole-heartedly (albeit with present day highlights) in the Hotel de L’Horloge.