The Popes' Palace

 

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THE POPES' PALACE

The skyline of Avignon is a magnificent urban landscape.
Overlooking the city and the Rhône river, the Rocher des Doms presents an exceptional set of monuments including the Saint Bénezet Bridge, (the famous « Pont d’Avignon »), the Ramparts, the Petit Palais, the Cathedral and the impressive walls of the Popes’ Palace flanked by four mighty towers. This architectural group has been ranked by UNESCO: « world heritage for humanity ».

The Palace of the Popes stands as the mighty symbol of the church’s influence throughout the western Christian world in the 14th century.
Construction was started in 1335 and completed in less than twenty years under the leadership of two builder popes, Benedict XII and his successor Clement VI.
The Popes’ Palace is the biggest Gothic palace in all of Europe (15,000 m2 of floor space, which is the equivalent of 4 Gothic cathedrals).
The visitor can see over 20 rooms, scenes of historic events, in particular the pope’s private chambers and the frescoes painted by the Italian artist Matteo Giovannetti.

The Popes’ Palace also offers the visitor continuous cultural activities throughout the year.
A major art exhibit is displayed in the Great Chapel during the summer, and the most prestigious performances of the Avignon Theater Festival, created by Jean Vilar in 1947, are given in the Honor Courtyard of the Popes’ Palace during the month of July.

The Popes’ Palace has welcomed more than 650,000 visitors. It is one of the most visited monuments in all of France.

 

TWO POPES : TWO BUILDERS

Nothing remains of the Episcopal Palace built by John XII on the Rocher des Doms except the plans.
The work carried out in the "Old Palace" by Benedict XII started in 1335 with the building of a donjon outside the Palace, called the "Tower of Angels" protected by ramparts with adjoining private apartments, and followed by the building of the Great Chapel, parallel to the Cathedral. Between 1338 and 1342, the different wings of the old Episcopal palace were pulled down, then rebuilt around a cloister flanked by two sturdy towers. This fortress Palace combined power with austerity.
After building the Tower of the Wardrobe against the southern side of the Tower of Angels in 1342, Clement VI undertook the "Opus Novum" in 1344 with the Great Audience room which was situated above the Great Chapel. The layout of the Great Dignitaries' wing at right angles created the shape of the impressive large Honour Courtyard. Military preoccupations no longer prevailed as the elegance of the façades indicated. Inside the Palace, the ever-present intersecting ribs create some beautiful sculpted decors.

EXCEPTIONAL FRESCOES

As early as 1343, Matteo Giovannetti of Viterbo was at the head of important groups of painters coming from all over Europe. After the decoration of the Tower of the Wardrobe (the Stag Room) he was entrusted by Clement VI with the decoration of the Old Palace : Saint Martial's and Saint John's Chapel. In 1352 Matteo Giovannetti began decorating the Great Audience room. The frescoes which are still intact make up an exceptional work, one of the most interesting features of the Palace, and represent the supreme artistic quality of the first school of Avignon.

 

LODGING

See the listing of the Hotels in Avignon

PRACTICAL INFORMATIONS

Palace of the Popes
RMG – 6, rue Pente Rapide
Charles Ansidei
84000 AVIGNON – FRANCE

The Popes' Palace is open every day of the year.
The last tickets are sold one hour before closing time.

– from 1st to 14th march: 9H – 18H30
– from 15 march to 30 june: 9H – 19H
– from 1st to 31 july: 9H -20H
– from 1st to 31 aug.: 9H – 21H
– from 1st sept to 15 sept: 9h -20H
– from 16 sept to 1er nov.: 9H -19H
– from 2 nov. to 28 feb: 9H30 -17H45

 

Audioguided tours: in 8 languages (Fr, Ang, All, It, Esp, Nd, Jp, Ch) included in price of entry.
Guided tours: supplement accredited guide (see below)
Free of charge:
children below 8 years