Towering over Avignon the imposing Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes) is the symbol of the city's medieval power. The palace consists of the ascetic Old Palace, commissioned by Benedict XII, and the extravagant Gothic New Palace of Clement VI. It was built primarily as a fortress with massive outer walls, battlements and sluices for pouring hot oil onto attackers. Inside the palace, so little remains of the original interior that visitors could be mislead into believing that all the popes and their entourage were as virtuous as the last official occupant, Benedict XIII. In reality the interior was once elaborately decorated, displayed the decadence of the feuding cardinals and their mistresses. The fire of 1413 destroyed most of the decoration and furnishings, but evidence of the once magnificent interior remains including some frescoes, including one painted by Italian artist Matteo Giovannetti in the Great Audience Room. Visitors can take a fascinating tour of the palace taking in the Pope's Bedchamber, the Chapelle St-Martial and the Stag Room. Nearby, dwarfed by the palace, is the 12th-century Cathédrale Notre-Dame des Doms.
Telephone: (04) 9027 5000
Website: www.palais-des-papes.com
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Opening times: High Season: Daily 9am to 7pm (15 March to 1 July), 9am to 8pm (July to September), 9.30am to 5.45pm (1 November to 14 March) 9am to 7pm (October)
Petit Palais
Just below the Palais des Papes, the Petit Palais contains a wonderful collection of 13th- to 15th-century paintings and sculpture. Most are the work of Italian masters from that era and, as you progress through the 19 rooms, you can observe how they wrestled with and finally conquered the representation of perspective - a revolution from medieval art, where the size of figures depended on their importance rather than position. The highlights of the collection are Botticelli's sublime Virgin and Child and The Angel of the Annunciation by Sano Di Pietro.
Telephone: (04) 9086 4458
Website: www.petitpalais.paris.fr
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Opening times: Daily 9am to 7pm (April to October); 9.30am to 5.45pm (November to March)
Pont d'Avignon
Behind the Petit Palais is the much photographed Pont d'Avignon, known best from the famous children's song of the same name. The bridge was originally built in the 12th century to shorten the journey for the busy traders ferrying their goods between the Mediterranean and Lyon. The torrents of the Rhône regularly damaged and brought down sections of the bridge and builders finally gave up repairing it in 1660, four centuries after it was built. Today only four of the original 22 arches remain. On the first of the bridge's bulwarks is the tiny Chapelle St-Nicholas, and this delicate Romanesque chapel, dedicated to St Nicholas, patron saint of bargemen, is well worth a visit.
Telephone: (0)4 9027 5116
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Opening times: 9am to 7pm (April, May and October); 9am to 9pm (June to July); 9am to 8pm (August to September); 9.30am to 5.45pm (November to March)
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a medieval village on the side of a hill, dominated by the ruins of an ancient château towering above. The château was the pope's summer retreat from the Palais and although all that remains are the foundations and two outer walls, it is still an imposing sight and a wonderful viewpoint. The village below is a maze of well-restored medieval buildings and narrow streets that weave around the hillside. Today life in the village often involves working in the surrounding vineyards or selling the famous wine to the many tourists who visit. The village is 11 miles (18km) northeast of Avignon.
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Resorts: Aix-en-Provence | Aix en Provence | Arles | Avignon | Marseilles
Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a medieval village on the side of a hill, dominated by the ruins of an ancient château towering above. The château was the pope's summer retreat from the Palais and although all that remains are the foundations and two outer walls, it is still an imposing sight and a wonderful viewpoint. The village below is a maze of well-restored medieval buildings and narrow streets that weave around the hillside. Today life in the village often involves working in the surrounding vineyards or selling the famous wine to the many tourists who visit. The village is 11 miles (18km) northeast of Avignon.
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Transport:
Opening times:
Resorts: Aix-en-Provence | Aix en Provence | Arles | Avignon | Marseilles
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