In 1274 king of France Philippe III le Hardi gives an area including Avignon called Comtat Venaissin to (184th) pope Gregory X. (The comtat was merged into…
The 195th pope, Clement V, who was born in France in the Bordeaux area, fled Rome and the wars between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines and decided to settle in…
Overall 6 popes and 3 anti-popes lived in Avignon between 1309 and 1377 (popes Clement V, John XXII, Benedict XII, Clement VI, Innocent VI, Urban V, Gregory XI)…
Gregory XI returned to Rome in 1377 and died there in 1378. The conclave (an assembly of cardinals) convened to elect a new pope: Urban VI; however difficulties…
The cathedral and the Campane tower, one of the 12 towers of the popes' palace.
The palace is built atop a rock.
The palace is built atop a rock.
The west facade, facing a large square, and the main gate of the palace.
Main gate.
Top of the main gate.
Top of the west facade and of the main gate.
Courtyard of the old palace, the palace built by pope Benedict XII. Pope Clement VI then added a second courtyard and further enlarged the palace; the resulting…
The second Avignon pope, John XXII, had been a bishop in Avignon and lived in the bishop's palace, which he knew well, and had it enlarged; however the third…
Courtyard of the old palace, the palace built by pope Benedict XII.
Courtyard of the old palace, the palace built by pope Benedict XII.
Courtyard of the old palace, the palace built by pope Benedict XII.
Courtyard of the old palace, the palace built by pope Benedict XII.
