visit Avignon Audio guide in English
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French Federation of Historical Audioguides
Palace of the Popes - Avignon
Abbaye Saint-Ruf
Cathédrale d Avignon
Ile de la barthelasse
John XXII, former bishop of this diocese, made it the capital of Christendom and transformed his former episcopal palace into the first palace of the popes.
It was Benedict XII who had the Palais Vieux built and it was his successor, Clement VI, who had the Palais Neuf built. He had bought the city on June 9, 1348 from Joan I of Naples, Queen of Naples and Countess of Provence.
Innocent VI endowed it with ramparts. His two successors Urbain V and Gregory XI had the will to return to Rome, the second attempt was the good one but the early death of the seventh pope of Avignon caused the Great Western Schism. Clement VII and Benedict XIII reigned again in Avignon.
In total, nine popes have therefore succeeded in the Palace of the Popes and enriched it over the course of their pontificates.
Under their reigns, the Court was seething and attracted many merchants, painters, sculptors and musicians.
Their palace, the most remarkable Gothic-style building in the world, required for its construction and ornamentation the joint work of the best French architects, Pierre Peysson and Jean du Louvres, dit de Loubières, and the greatest fresco painters of the School of Siena, Simone Martini and Matteo Giovanetti.
In the 14th century, the Pontifical Library of Avignon was the largest in Europe with 2,000 volumes.
It was Benedict XII who had the Palais Vieux built and it was his successor, Clement VI, who had the Palais Neuf built. He had bought the city on June 9, 1348 from Joan I of Naples, Queen of Naples and Countess of Provence.
Innocent VI endowed it with ramparts. His two successors Urbain V and Gregory XI had the will to return to Rome, the second attempt was the good one but the early death of the seventh pope of Avignon caused the Great Western Schism. Clement VII and Benedict XIII reigned again in Avignon.
In total, nine popes have therefore succeeded in the Palace of the Popes and enriched it over the course of their pontificates.
Under their reigns, the Court was seething and attracted many merchants, painters, sculptors and musicians.
Their palace, the most remarkable Gothic-style building in the world, required for its construction and ornamentation the joint work of the best French architects, Pierre Peysson and Jean du Louvres, dit de Loubières, and the greatest fresco painters of the School of Siena, Simone Martini and Matteo Giovanetti.
In the 14th century, the Pontifical Library of Avignon was the largest in Europe with 2,000 volumes.
Tourist map - visit Avignon
