You will certainly want to ensure that you have plenty of time to explore Avignon. With its medieval architecture, cobbled streets, ancient city ramparts, Gothic churches and historic chapels, it is no wonder that parts of Avignon are UNESCO protected.

There are numerous historic sights to see in the city. The ruins of Avignon Bridge date back to the Middle Ages and are the home to legends. They are also the inspiration for the well-known song "Sur Le Pont D'Avignon". The impressive medieval Palais des Papes can also be found here, the largest palace of its kind in Europe.

Make sure to enjoy the city's plentiful gardens and open spaces such as the Rocher des Doms, with its scenic views. Of course, this being France you will also want to make sure that you leave plenty of time to enjoy traditional cuisine and drink from regional wineries, as well as buy lavender picked from local fields.

If you are flying into Avignon Caumont Airport (AVN), why not pick up your hire car here and make the transfer to the hotel at your convenience? Alternatively, you can pick up your car in the city itself at convenient downtown locations and book it for part or all of your stay.

To find the best price on car hire in Avignon, use TravelSupermarket's search tool.

If you are exploring outside Avignon, car hire can help you to access fantastic sights such as the Roman aqueduct, the Pont du Gard, which spans the Gardon River close to Remoulins. The journey time between here and Avignon is less than 30 minutes. In the opposite direction, the impressive Mont Ventoux draws active types, while the town of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, at the source of the Sorgue canal, is well worth a stop. Cities such as Arles and Nimes, the historic county of Roussillon and the wider Rhone Valley are also accessible.

Drive south to see the wetlands of Camargue or head in an easterly direction and have cameras at the ready at the spectacular Verdon Gorge. From there it's an easy onward journey to some of the sparkling highlights of the Cote d'Azur, where Champagne lifestyles play out against a backdrop of designer boutiques, grand hotels and pristine beaches in destinations such as Nice, Cannes, St Tropez and Monaco.

Of course, the beauty of hiring a car in Avignon means that you can travel wherever your daily inclination takes you. Motor past the purples of Provence's lavender fields, strike out into vineyard territory, pitch up for lunch at a traditional hilltop town, or head for the glitz and the glamour of the French Riviera. If you rent a car, Avignon can be the base or the starting point for all kinds of holidays.