Greeter’s words – Alain, Avignon

Alain coordinates Avignon Provence Greeters, a network launched in June 2024 aimed at promoting friendly and authentic tourism. Having lived in the Vaucluse region for 30 years, he passionately shares local history, from ancient times to the papal Middle Ages. His project, born from his love of international exchange and family outings, has greatly appealed to the local tourism sector.

 
I’m Alain, a Greeter in Avignon. More specifically, I run and coordinate the Avignon Provence Greeters network, officially launched on June 1, 2024. Having lived in Vaucluse for around thirty years, I’ve always loved sharing the history of Avignon, from Antiquity to the present day, with a particular fondness for the Middle Ages, so marked by the influence of the popes..
My ambition with this project is simple: to offer a peaceful and friendly tourist experience, based on human encounters and authentic discovery of the region. The idea came to me naturally, fueled by my love of family walks, intercultural exchanges—particularly via couchsurfing—and the pleasure of telling stories, listening, and creating connections.
Very quickly, this approach attracted local tourist offices and the departmental tourism development agency, all enthusiastic about the idea of ​​promoting more humane, more sustainable tourism.
Every walk with the Greeters is unique. These are moments of sharing that are as enriching for the visitors as they are for us, the volunteers. The real challenge today is responding to all the requests, such is the enthusiasm. I often lead walks in English, which represents a small personal challenge that I take on with pleasure—it’s stimulating and rewarding.
The group of volunteers is gradually growing, and each new encounter is a source of personal enrichment. One of my most memorable memories remains that walk last October, a young American accompanied by his mother. In front of the memorial to those who died for France at Avignon town hall, he spoke, deeply moved, about his Cherokee grandfather, a veteran of the Normandy landings. This moment, both intimate and unexpected, full of emotion and history, left an indelible mark—as much as the old stones of Avignon or a simple hot chocolate enjoyed on a terrace.
Being a Greeter, for me, is above all the art of sharing: telling my story while listening to those of others, sometimes from the other side of the world, or simply from the next village.

Alain, September 2025