The pale stone façade and towers of the Palais des Papes above wide steps and the palace square on a sunny winter day

Heritage · Avignon, Vaucluse, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Avignon and the Palais des Papes

The walled city on the Rhône where the popes lived in the 14th century, with their vast Gothic palace and the broken Pont d'Avignon

Explore on the map Plan a France trip

Ambient sound · similar settingBustle of a Mediterranean street market

Photo: Elly Ch. (@elly_mb_13) / Unsplash

Discover Avignon and the Palais des Papes

Avignon sits on the east bank of the Rhône, its old centre still enclosed by medieval ramparts. At its heart, above a wide square, rises the Palais des Papes, which its managers describe as the largest Gothic palace in the world, with around 15,000 square metres of floor space. Behind its towers and battlements lie great halls, chapels and private apartments, some with fourteenth-century frescoes by artists such as Matteo Giovanetti.

Next to the palace stand the cathedral of Notre-Dame des Doms, dating from the twelfth century and topped by a gilded statue, and the Petit Palais, once the bishops' residence. A short walk away, four arches of the Pont Saint-Bénézet, the Pont d'Avignon of the children's song, end abruptly in the middle of the river. Together they make a compact, walkable centre of narrow streets, squares and café terraces.

Don’t miss

01The towers and Gothic façade of the Palais des Papes above the palace square
02Painted chapels and halls inside the palace, with frescoes by Matteo Giovanetti
03The cathedral of Notre-Dame des Doms and the gardens of the Rocher des Doms
04The four surviving arches of the Pont Saint-Bénézet over the Rhône
05The Cour d'honneur, the main stage of the Festival d'Avignon in July

History & culture

The story of Avignon and the Palais des Papes

Pope Clement V moved the papal court to Avignon in 1309, and seven popes reigned here until 1377. Benedict XII began the fortified Palais Vieux in the 1330s, and his successor Clement VI added the more lavish Palais Neuf; building continued until about 1364. After the popes returned to Rome, rival antipopes held court in Avignon during the Great Schism, and the palace was besieged more than once in the early fifteenth century.

After the Revolution the palace was sacked, then used as a barracks and prison, and much of its interior decoration was lost. It was vacated in 1906, became a national monument and has been under restoration ever since. In 1947 an exhibition in the Great Chapel gave rise to the Festival d'Avignon, which now fills the city every July, and in 1995 the historic centre was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Local life & traditions

Avignon is a lively market and university town as well as a heritage site. Locals gather on the terraces of Place de l'Horloge and in the covered market at Les Halles, and Provençal produce, Côtes du Rhône wines from nearby vineyards and summer festival crowds give the city its character. Avignon residents can visit the palace free at certain times, and it is used for concerts and exhibitions throughout the year.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

A visit to the palace takes around two hours, following a route through state rooms, chapels, the papal apartments and terraces with views over the rooftops; a combined ticket also covers the gardens and the Pont d'Avignon. Afterwards visitors explore the lanes of the old town inside the ramparts, climb to the Rocher des Doms park above the river, and visit the Petit Palais museum. In July the Festival d'Avignon and its fringe programme bring theatre to courtyards, chapels and streets across the city.

When to go

Spring and autumn bring mild weather and fewer visitors. July is the festival month, when the city is full and accommodation must be booked early, while August is hot and busy. The palace is open every day of the year, with shorter hours in winter.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Opening hours (2026): Open every day: 1 March–1 November 9:00–19:00; 2 November–18 December 10:00–17:00; 19 December–3 January 10:00–18:00. Last admission one hour before closing. Source: palais-des-papes.com ↗
Tickets: Palace and papal gardens €16 (reduced €13, ages 10–17 €10); with the Pont d'Avignon €19.50 (reduced €16, ages 10–17 €12). Free for under-10s. Online booking recommended; the official site notes prices change from 1 August 2026. Source: palais-des-papes.com ↗
Works (2026–2027): From 1 May 2026 the palace is being transformed with new visitor routes and rooms; works continue until spring 2027, so parts of the visit may change. Source: palais-des-papes.com ↗
Getting there: Place du Palais des Papes, 84000 Avignon. Avignon Centre station is about 15 minutes' walk away; the palace is at most 25 minutes on foot from anywhere inside the ramparts. Source: palais-des-papes.com ↗
World Heritage status: Historic Centre of Avignon: Papal Palace, Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge. Source: whc.unesco.org ↗

Checked against the sources on 29 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

Book palace tickets online in summer to avoid the queues at the ticket desks.
Buy the combined ticket if you also want to walk out on the Pont d'Avignon.
Book accommodation months ahead if you plan to visit during the July festival.
The palace is neither heated nor air-conditioned, so dress for the season.
Climb to the Rocher des Doms gardens for views over the Rhône and the bridge.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Avignon and the Palais des Papes: food, markets & places to stay

Across the Rhône, Villeneuve-lès-Avignon has its own fort and charterhouse. The Pont du Gard lies about 21 kilometres to the west, and the Luberon villages of Gordes and Roussillon are within an hour's drive to the east. Nîmes, Arles and the wine villages of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are also easy day trips.