Horloge Square

You’ve arrived at the very heart of Avignon! The bustling Horloge Square is a must-see in the city. It got its current look in the 1800s, but it actually dates from the Middle Ages, back when it housed the town’s largest market. The square owes its name to the Clock Tower, peeking over the town hall. You have to walk a little further along the square, past the opera house, to catch a glimpse of this 14th-century vestige. It was built in 1354 and got its iconic clock a hundred years later to help the locals keep track of time. It was a game-changer, as back then, people relied on church bells, which chimed three times a day: morning, noon and night. As for the Town Hall on your left, Napoleon III himself ordered its construction in 1844 on the site of the former residence of the Cardinal of Albano; the tower is all that remains of this earlier building. At the time, town halls were a symbol of a city’s strength and autonomy, so naturally, any city with the resources would have one built. But the real charmer here is the Jacquemart belfry, an automaton in the form of a little figure who strikes the bell with his hammer every hour. And guess what? He gets a rose from his wife as a reward each time! Whether you want to grab a drink on a sunny terrace or refuel over lunch in one of the many restaurants, the Horloge square is the perfect place to take a break and unwind.