Châteauneuf du Pape and Avignon

Calling all wine lovers. Prized as one of France's finest wines, Châteauneuf-du-Pape – ‘the pope's new castle’ – takes its name from the wine-loving pontiffs who relocated from their traditional home of Rome to Avignon in 1309. Today, more than 300 vineyards in the Rhône region produce the official Châteauneuf-du-Pape to strict guidelines – visit a local winery to learn about its fascinating history and try a glass or two. You’ll then enjoy a guided tour of Avignon, where legacies of the 14th-century papacy remain, including the spectacular Palais des Papes – the largest Gothic palace ever built and now a UNESCO World Heritage Centre.