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All 40 Avignon Attractions »

Pope's Palace (Palais des Papes)

6, rue Pente Rapide, 84000 Avignon, France
049027500
Ranked #2 of 27 attractions in Avignon
4.0 of 5 stars 168 Reviews
Type: Castles, Historic Sites, Landmarks/ Points of Interest
Owner description: The residence of the soveriegn pontiffs in the 14th century is the largest Gothic Palace in the world. 25 areas to visit : ceremonila halls, chapels,...... more » Owner description: The residence of the soveriegn pontiffs in the 14th century is the largest Gothic Palace in the world. 25 areas to visit : ceremonila halls, chapels, cloister, the Pope's provate apartments with their priceless frescos, as well as a scenographic area, the Musée de l'Oeuvre, wich presents the development and history of the building since it was build. Ranked as UNESCO world heritage. « less
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168 reviews from our community

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Date Rating
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 27 May 2012 NEW

Although mostly devoid of the decor and furnishings, it's still an amazing place and one can pictures the riches of its earlier days. More

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adelaide
Senior Contributor
27 reviews 27 reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 27 May 2012 NEW

Enjoyed the audio tour- but would have liked more history and less religion from the commentary More

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See 2 more reviews by traveller-eater for Avignon
macon, ga
Top Contributor
72 reviews 72 reviews
Reviews in 24 cities Reviews in 24 cities
49 helpful votes 49 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 23 May 2012 NEW

Unless you really enjoy the intricacies of the Popes and the Catholic Church, skip the inside tour. The audio guide is incredibly boring, but without the audio guide, you will not have a clue what you are looking at. A disappointment to me, probably the one sight during our whole trip to France that was a let down. My advice:... More

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See 2 more reviews by cclisch for Avignon
Williamstown, Victoria, Australia
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 23 May 2012 NEW

beautiful building, lovely views, historical signifigance More

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Keaau, Hawaii
Contributor
17 reviews 17 reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 23 May 2012 NEW

The palace was surprisingly interesting with displays that explained the uses of the various rooms. The architecture and decoration were very well preserved, and the path suggested for visiting was well thought out. Crowding was minimal and only present in a few of the smaller rooms when tour groups came through. Well worth the time and cost of admission. More

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marietta, ga
Senior Contributor
48 reviews 48 reviews
Reviews in 18 cities Reviews in 18 cities
17 helpful votes 17 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 22 May 2012 NEW

I couldn't help but marvel at the incredible achievement of engineering that was required to build this palace some 850 years ago. And they managed to complete the construction in two years. One could argue that the palace's luxury and overall excess was shameful during a time when so many people barely had enough to eat. But you can't help... More

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See 2 more reviews by PaulieGA for Avignon
Toronto, Canada
Senior Contributor
21 reviews 21 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
13 helpful votes 13 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 19 May 2012

The building itself is beautiful and provides interesting background on the Avignon papacy, its causes and consequences. If you've been to the Vatican, though, or are a castle fiend in general, this one may prove underwhelming, if only because the rooms of the palace are empty. You'll need a bit of imagination to picture what the palace would have looked... More

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See 2 more reviews by Resaco for Avignon
Tel Aviv, Israel
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
Reviews in 7 cities Reviews in 7 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 19 May 2012

Very recomended for history buffs, kids and the ocasional tourist. Take into account that it takes a couple of hours of walking all the corridors of the palace. More

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Pacific Palisades, CA
Senior Contributor
35 reviews 35 reviews
Reviews in 16 cities Reviews in 16 cities
15 helpful votes 15 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 18 May 2012

Worth the time. Be warned, there are a lot of stairs. More

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Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Top Contributor
160 reviews 160 reviews
Reviews in 70 cities Reviews in 70 cities
66 helpful votes 66 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 18 May 2012

A huge building with many rooms. The audioguide will take you through. Buy the ticket that includes the old bridge and walk on it afterward. Don't miss the Jardin nearby. More

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See 3 more reviews by mjrg59 for Avignon

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