The prestigious Festival d’Avignon (www.festival-avignon.com, July) celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2006, so expect an extravaganza of performing arts. The focal point for activities is the Palais des Papes, but the most exciting element of the festival is the ‘off’ (www.avignon-off.org), which, like the Edinburgh fringe, attracts oddball acts from around the world in a dramatic free-for-all. The city’s big equestrian festival (04 90 84 01 04) takes place in January.

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