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This guide forms part of our complete France Travel Guide, featuring scenic road trips, iconic destinations, practical travel advice and honest first-hand travel experiences from across France.

This article is also part of our 🚗 7-Day France Road Trip series, exploring Orléans, Lyon, Avignon and Nice. Beginning at Paris CDG and then to the Loire Valley, our 1,000 kilometre adventure takes us through historic towns, iconic cities and one of France’s most famous beach fronts. Read the complete itinerary here.

Why Palais des Papes Became a Highlight of Our France Road Trip

After exploring the famous Pont Saint-Bénézet, we made our way through the medieval streets of Avignon toward one of the most important buildings in Europe; the incredible Palais des Papes. Standing before the largest Gothic palace in the world was an unforgettable moment…

Before even entering, we stood outside for several minutes simply admiring the sheer scale of the palace. Massive stone walls, towering battlements, enormous Gothic architecture — it genuinely felt like something from another era.

And then you realize… This is the largest Gothic palace in the world.

From medieval walls and papal history to floods that destroyed most of the bridge, Pont d’Avignon became one of the most fascinating stops of our French road trip.

We had booked timed-entry tickets through Viator, which made entry very smooth, and soon found ourselves stepping inside one of Europe’s most important medieval landmarks. The palace was built during the 14th century

Palais des Papes was constructed primarily between 1335 and 1352 when Avignon became the centre of the Catholic world and home to future Popes. During the period known as the Avignon Papacy, seven successive Popes ruled from Avignon instead of Rome. At the time, the palace symbolized the immense religious and political power of the Catholic Church across Europe. The building was designed both as a fortified fortress and a grand papal residence capable of defending against military threats while hosting royal courts, diplomats, bishops, and political leaders.

This was one of the most incredible visits and we nearly didn’t have Palais des Papes on our agenda. The scale and history was more than worth the time and cost.

The palace covers approximately 15,000 square metres. Its massive defensive walls, towers, ceremonial halls, chapels, courtyards, and private papal apartments reveal the extraordinary wealth and influence of the Church during the 14th century.
Over the next two hours, we explored massive ceremonial halls, ancient chapels, defensive towers, courtyards, ruins, and stone corridors that once shaped the future of Europe.

One of the highlights was climbing the palace walls and upper terraces where spectacular panoramic views stretched across Avignon, the Rhône River, Pont d’Avignon, and the surrounding Provence countryside.

From above, you truly appreciate how strategically important this fortified city once was. Inside the palace, we visited the remarkable Saint John’s Chapel dating back to 1338, with its medieval frescoes and religious artwork still surviving centuries later. We also explored the Consistoire; the formal assembly chamber where Popes and Cardinals gathered to debate politics, church matters, diplomacy, and judicial affairs during one of the most powerful periods in medieval Europe. Some rooms once featured elaborate frescoes painted by leading Italian artists of the era, many of which still survive today.

Following the return of the papacy to Rome in 1377, the palace gradually lost political importance but continued serving military and administrative purposes over the centuries. During the French Revolution, sections of the palace suffered damage and were later used as barracks and prisons.

Palais des Papes & Pont Saint-Bénézet forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Historic Centre of Avignon.

The UNESCO listing includes several major landmarks connected to Avignon’s extraordinary history:

Palais des Papes
Pont Saint-Bénézet
Avignon Cathedral
the medieval city walls surrounding the old town

Today, Palais des Papes stands as one of France’s most visited historic monuments and remains a remarkable symbol of medieval European history. Every room inside the palace seemed to carry centuries of stories.
From ancient stone staircases and vaulted ceilings to hidden chambers and massive banquet halls, this wasn’t simply a museum visit. It felt like walking directly through medieval history.

That feeling continued as we wandered Avignon’s entire city centre that’s enclosed by remarkably preserved 14th-century medieval ramparts. Within this walled area, we discovered a maze of cobblestone streets, hidden squares, and small neighbourhoods. We passed Hotel de Ville, le Banque de France and finally settled on Opera Cafe for a delicious Soupe a L’Onion (onion soup). As it was a chilly day, we enjoyed a cafe crème & chocolat chaud as well.

The Popes of Avignon (1309–1377)

Perhaps the most famous figures connected to Avignon are the seven popes who ruled from the city during the “Avignon Papacy,” when the papal court temporarily moved from Rome to France.

Notable Popes Include:

Pope Clement V
The pope who moved the papal court to Avignon in 1309.
Pope John XXII
Expanded papal administration and greatly increased Avignon’s influence.
Pope Benedict XII
Began construction of the massive Palais des Papes.
Pope Clement VI
Known for lavish courts and major artistic patronage during Avignon’s golden era.

Largest Gothic Palace in the World!

🎯 Top 5 Things to see and do in Avignon

Avignon is one of the most historically important and visually striking cities in southern France. Surrounded by medieval walls and filled with papal history, Roman influence, cobbled streets, and Provençal charm, it’s a destination that feels like stepping back into another century

1. Pont Saint-Bénézet
The world-famous “Pont d’Avignon” is one of France’s most iconic landmarks. Originally built in the 12th century with 22 arches crossing the Rhône River, only four arches remain today after centuries of devastating floods. The bridge is also immortalized in the famous French song “Sur le Pont d’Avignon.

2. Palais des Papes
One of the largest and most important Gothic palaces in Europe. During the 14th century, Avignon became the seat of the Catholic Church, and this immense fortress-palace housed the popes during the Avignon Papacy. The scale and architecture are extraordinary.

3. Avignon Cathedral
Located beside the Palace of the Popes, this Romanesque cathedral is crowned by a massive golden statue of the Virgin Mary overlooking the city. The interior contains centuries of religious art and history.

4. Rocher des Doms
A peaceful hilltop garden beside the cathedral offering spectacular panoramic views over the Rhône River, Pont d’Avignon, and the surrounding Provençal countryside.

5. Avignon City Walls
The remarkably preserved medieval ramparts stretch for approximately 4.3 kilometres around the old city and are among the finest surviving fortified walls in France.

Why not visit: Cathedral Notre-Dame des Doms

Avignon Cathedral sits directly beside Palais des Papes and forms one of the most recognizable landmarks in Avignon. Originally built in the 12th century in Romanesque style, the cathedral is crowned by a striking gilded statue of the Virgin Mary standing high above the city. From the palace grounds and surrounding viewpoints, the gold statue gleams dramatically against the Provence sky and can be seen from across the Rhône River.

Inside the cathedral are historic chapels, ornate religious artwork, marble tombs, and the mausoleum of Pope John XXII, one of the Avignon Popes. The cathedral played an important ceremonial role during the Avignon Papacy and hosted major religious events attended by Popes, Cardinals, and European nobility. Together with Palais des Papes and Pont d’Avignon, the cathedral forms part of Avignon’s UNESCO World Heritage designation.

Why not visit: Petit Palais

Petit Palais Museum is another remarkable historic building located beside Palais des Papes. Originally constructed in the 14th century as a residence for bishops and high-ranking clergy, the building later became a palace for archbishops and now houses an important art museum. Its elegant medieval architecture and quiet courtyard provide a fascinating contrast to the massive scale of the nearby papal palace.

Today, the Petit Palais Museum contains one of France’s finest collections of medieval and early Renaissance Italian paintings, including works connected to artists influenced by Giotto and other masters of the period. Visitors exploring the palace district can easily combine Palais des Papes, Notre-Dame des Doms Cathedral, and Petit Palais into one unforgettable historic experience in the heart of Avignon.

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Inside the Largest Gothic Palace in the World: Palais des Papes 🇫🇷 7-Day Road Trip Across France [Video]