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From Paris to Avignon with the fast train (TGV):

If you arrive in Paris by plane you can take the TGV (the fast train) directly from Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to Avignon (gare TGV, not Centre Ville). You must get your tickets and reservations before leaving home. I have an excellent travel agent, Murielle Blanchard, who knows the area very well. She can help you with all your travel arrangements: Her phone 801 483 6533, Fax 801 483-6338. The train from CDG takes about 3 hours. If you are in the center of Paris, take the TGV from the train station Gare de Lyon to Avignon (Gare TGV). Remember to punch your ticket in the train station either at CDG or Gare de Lyon. The ticket punching machines are bright orange, insert the end of the ticket and it will be punched automatically. In the Gare de Lyon, there are letter tracks, such as A B C etc., that are indicated with the color blue, and number tracks, such as 16, 17 etc., indicated with the color yellow. The letter tracks are in the main hall, the yellow tracks are in the secondary hall reached by walking along the left side of track A. You can pick up a rental car in Avignon at the train station Avignon TGV; see the instructions below. We can also arrange to meet you.

Driving from Paris (675 kilometers-500 miles):

It takes about 7 hours to Nyons from Paris. Take the auto route A6 to Lyon, then the auto route A7 to the Bollene exit , south of Montelimar-Sud. Get off at Bollene and follow the signs to Nyons (35 kilometers-25 miles) and Gap. Once in Nyons, go to the center of town (centre ville), which will be the fourth traffic circle; it has an olive tree surrounded by flowers in the center. You will see the Office de Toursime and a number of cafes. Call us from there (04 7526 4531) and we will come to direct you to the chateau--it's only a short distance but the old town can be confusing. To call us you will need a French telephone card, which you buy at a news stand; ask for "une carte pour telephone public" and get the cheapest one. (Actually it's worthwhile to get one when you first arrive in France because you cannot make phone calls with coins any more.)

From London to Avignon:

You can also come by train from London (train station Waterloo) to Avignon, it takes about 6 hours with a change in Calais.

Driving from Avignon TGV train station to Nyons:

Avignon TGV has only two tracks, one going south, one going north. From the platform, descend either by ramp, elevator or stairs. The car rental agencies are at the back of the station. Leave the station through the big iron gates. In front, outside the gates, there is a large half circle, follow the traffic 3/4 around the circle, taking the last road on the right before entering the station again. There is a sign that says "Centre Ville" There is also a "Centre Ville" sign on the next-to-last road --pass it by. You will take the road that has a median planted with young trees.

Go to the end of this road, about 200 feet, and go around a traffic circle, following the sign "Centre Ville." You will be on a four-lane road, divided by tree-planted median. Drive 2 kilometers, passing two traffic lights. Stay in the left lane and you will soon see signs for Centre ville pointing to the right: DO NOT TAKE this road. Continue in left lane, there will be another sign for Nimes etc.. DO NOT TAKE that road. Finally now there is only 1 lane; you will see a sign: "Centre Historique Parkings," follow that road until it flows onto a large avenue.

Stay in the middle lane and follow the traffic (this takes only a minute) veering to the left. Stay in the middle lane, go under the bridge, remain in the middle lane, until the traffic for the bridge (the right lane) has exited. Then quickly move to the right lane. You will pass the sign for Parking for the Palais des Papes. Continue under the tunnel and follow the signs for Valence, Orange, A7. That tunnel takes you out of the mess of Avignon. Stay on that out of Avignon for about 5 kilometers, always following the signs for the A7. You will see a giant mall on your left. The autoroute will be on your right. Watch carefully because there are trees that can obscure the sign for A7. There are several roads almost at the entrance of the A7. If you miss the entrance continue around the traffic circle until you can take the A7 northbound (Lyon-Valence-Orange). Take a ticket, following the direction Lyon-Valence-Orange. Stay on the autoroute for about 30 minutes to Bollene, the exit after Orange-centre.

At the exit, pay with your credit card. See above Driving from Paris-Bollene-Nyons for the driving instructions from Bollene to Nyons.

You can fly from London to either Marseille or Nimes (Ryanair) and rent a car.

From Marseille Airport to Nyons (160 kilometers-100 miles):

Follow "Toutes Directions", then follow the directions with the blue sign A7 (there will be other directions mentioned besides the blue sign), finally there will be a direction only with the blue sign A7 to Lyon which you take and come north to Bollene exit (see the directions above from Paris to Bollene-Nyons)

From Nimes Airport to Nyons (120 kilometers-100 miles):

Follow sign A9-north to Bollene exit (see the directions above from to Bollene-Nyons)

From Nice Airport to Nyons (350 kilometers-220 miles):

Follow sign A8-E80 to Aix en Provence , where it becomes A7-E80 -E 714. Follow signs to Salon de Provence, Avignon, then Bollene (at one point it is just A7 north). Exit at Bollene (see directions above from Bollene to Nyons)

It is a good idea to have the Michelin map of Provence-Cote d'Azur (number 245) if you are driving from the south and around our area.