Palace of the Popes of Avignon

The Palace of the Popes of Avignon was the main residence in Provence of the Pontiffs for more than a century. Find the opening hours and prices.

Nine popes succeeded each other in Avignon. The Popes' Palace, the main witness of their presence, is the symbol of the power of Christendom and the power of the Papacy at that time. It was considered by contemporaries as “the most beautiful and strongest house in the world” (Froissart). Its construction takes place in less than 20 years, from 1335 to 1352. It is mainly the work of two popes: Benedict XII, who built a rich and imposing Pontifical Palace (known as the Old Palace), and Clement VI, who built Opus Novum (known as the New Palace).

The Palais des Popes welcomes 600,000 visitors a year. It is one of the 10 most visited monuments in France.

The monument features twenty-five rooms and places open to visit: the large show halls that hosted ceremonies and feasts, treasure rooms, chapels and private apartments that contain priceless frescoes. The painted decorations of St. John's and St. Martial chapels are attributed to the great Italian painter Matteo Giovannetti.

Opening periods

From 01/03 to 03/11/2024, daily between 9 am and 7 pm.

From 04/11 to 20/12/2024, daily between 10 am and 5 pm.

From 21/12 to 31/12/2024, daily between 10 am and 6 pm.

Informations