Pope's Palace (Palais des Papes)

Introduction

The Palais des Papes is one of the most magnificent and important Gothic palaces in Europe. This huge stone palace standing in Avignon's old-town center, majestic and grand, is the glorious witness that the Catholic papacy once moved here in the 14th century, and the core landmark of Avignon as the city of popes. The building of the Palais des Papes traces to a unique and important period of Catholic history—in the 14th century, for historical reasons, the Roman papacy once moved from Rome to Avignon in France, with several popes residing here for decades (the Avignon papacy). To show the majesty and power of the papacy, successive popes built here a grand, fortress-like Gothic palace—one of the largest and most important Gothic buildings in Europe then, and a center of Christian-world power. The palace is majestic and strong: towering thick stone walls, lofty towers, and many grand halls inside (banquet hall, chapel, pope's apartment and study), all showing the former majesty, wealth and glory of the papacy; some precious medieval frescoes remain. This grand palace with Avignon's historic center is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Today visitors can walk into this grand palace, through grand halls and courtyards, imagine the glorious history of the papacy's residence in Avignon, and feel the grandeur and weight of this Gothic palace (in summer it often hosts the Avignon Theatre Festival and other events). Explore Avignon, walk into the grand Palais des Papes, and feel the glorious history of the city of popes—the unmissable number-one sight of Avignon.

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