Palais des Papes Audio Guide

Palais des Papes: what does the audio guide cover?

1. 01

   Welcome to the Palais des Papes

   Welcome to the Palais des Papes in Avignon, a colossal monument that stands as the largest Gothic palace ever built in Europe. As you look up at its towering walls, you are seeing a place that, for much of the fourteenth century, was the center of the Western Christian world. It was in 1309 that Pope Clement the Fifth fled the violent unrest of Rome to settle here in Avignon, beginning a period often called the Babylonian Captivity of the Church. For nearly 70 years, seven successive popes and two antipopes governed from within these very walls, transforming a provincial town into a grand cultural and political capital. Today, this UNESCO World Heritage Site covers 15,000 square meters—roughly the size of four individual Gothic cathedrals combined. Take a moment to breathe in the history of this most well-fortified house in the world, as described by the medieval chronicler Froissart, as we prepare to step back into the era of papal splendor.

2. 02

   A Tale of Two Palaces

   What you see today is actually an amalgamation of two distinct palaces built with staggering speed in less than 20 years. To your left is the Palais Vieux, or Old Palace, commissioned by the austere Pope Benedict the Twelfth in 1335. As a former Cistercian monk, his taste was for the monumental and the defensive, resulting in a fortress-like structure centered around a sober cloister. However, the mood shifts as you move toward the Palais Neuf, or New Palace, built by his successor, Pope Clement the Sixth. Clement was a lover of the arts and luxury; he added the grand southern and western wings to accommodate a more decadent courtly lifestyle. Look closely at the walls—some are over 3 meters thick, designed to withstand sieges during the turbulent Hundred Years War. Note that if you have limited mobility, the palace's numerous historic steps make many upper levels difficult to reach, so plan your path accordingly through the accessible ground-floor courtyards.

3. 03

   The Art of the Papal Court

   While the palace may appear stark today, in its heyday, these halls were bursting with color and life. The most breathtaking survivors of this era are the frescoes by the Italian master Matteo Giovannetti. In the Saint Martial and Saint John chapels, Giovannetti's work displays an incredible use of perspective that was decades ahead of its time. One of the most famous rooms is the Chambre du Cerf, or the Stag Room. Unlike the religious themes found elsewhere, this room was the Pope's private study and is decorated with vibrant scenes of hunting and fishing—very earthly pursuits for a spiritual leader. These paintings provide a rare glimpse into the secular lives of the fourteenth-century elite. As you wander through the Great Tinel, or Feast Hall, imagine it draped in heavy tapestries and filled with hundreds of dignitaries gathered for a papal banquet that could last for hours.

4. 04

   Living History and the Modern Festival

   The Palais des Papes is far from a silent museum; it remains the beating heart of Avignon's culture. Every summer since 1947, the main courtyard, or Cour d’Honneur, is transformed into a majestic open-air theater for the world-famous Festival d’Avignon. To help you visualize the original splendor, the palace now provides Histopads—interactive tablets that use augmented reality to show you exactly how each room was furnished and decorated seven centuries ago. Scanning the markers in nine key rooms lets you see virtual tapestries and furniture reappear before your eyes. For a spectacular physical perspective, head to the terrace of the Trouillas Tower. Standing 52 meters high, it offers a dizzying view over the rooftops of Avignon and the Rhône River below. It is the perfect spot to capture a photograph of the city's ancient skyline.

5. 05

   The Continuing Mystery

   As you move through the final halls, consider the fate of this giant after the popes returned to Rome in 1377. It served as a barracks, a prison, and even faced looting during the French Revolution before its restoration began in the early twentieth century. But the story does not end at the palace walls. Just beyond the gates lie the Notre-Dame des Doms Cathedral and the lush gardens of the Rocher des Doms, where you can find even more panoramic views of the famous Avignon Bridge. Why did these powerful men choose this specific rock to build their fortress? And what secrets remain hidden in the rooms only recently opened to the public in the 2026 renovation? The deeper you look into the stone and shadows of this citadel, the more the vibrant, often scandalous world of the medieval papacy begins to reveal itself.