Europe's Largest Gothic Palace Was Once Home to Popes | National Geographic
Summary
TLDRLocated in the sunny south of France, Avignon is a city rich in history, once serving as the seat of the Catholic Church during the Avignon Papacy (1309–1377). The stunning Palais des Papes, the largest Gothic palace in Europe, was built to house the popes and features frescoes by Italian master Matteo Giovannetti. The area is filled with historical landmarks, including the Notre-Dame des Doms Cathedral and the remnants of the Saint-Bénézet Bridge. Today, Avignon is a major tourist destination with well-preserved architecture and a robust tourism infrastructure, best visited in spring or fall.
Takeaways
- 🏰 Avignon is a historic city in southern France, once the seat of the Catholic Church.
- 🕍 The Avignon Papacy, also known as the Babylonian Captivity, was a controversial period from 1309 to 1377.
- 🏛 The Palais de PAP, constructed from 1335, is the largest Gothic palace in Europe and now a museum.
- 🎨 The palace contains exquisite frescoes by the Italian artist Matteo Giovannetti.
- 🗽 The papacy moved back to Rome in 1377, and the palace was later used as military barracks and a prison.
- 🏞 The city is surrounded by other monuments, including the Cathedral of Notre Dame de dôme, built in 1150.
- 🖼 The Petit Palais, once a bishop's residence, now houses an art museum with medieval and Renaissance works.
- 🌳 Rocher des Doms is a park near the palace offering panoramic views of the Rhône River.
- 🌉 Adjacent to the palace is the Saint Benezet bridge, with only four of the original 22 arches remaining.
- 🚗 Avignon is easily accessible with a well-developed tourism infrastructure, and visiting in spring or fall avoids crowds.
Q & A
Where is Avignon located?
-Avignon is located in the sunny south of France.
What is the significance of Avignon's historic center?
-The historic center of Avignon is known for its architectural and cultural significance, largely stemming from its brief stint as a seat of the papacy.
What is the term for the period when the Catholic Church's power was centered in Avignon?
-The period is known as the Avignon papacy or sometimes referred to as the Babylonian captivity.
How long did the Avignon papacy last?
-The Avignon papacy lasted from 1309 to 1377.
What was constructed in Avignon in 1335 to house the Popes?
-A magnificent palace known as the Palais de PAP was constructed in 1335 to house the Popes.
What is special about the Palais de PAP?
-The Palais de PAP is the largest Gothic palace in Europe and holds a collection of intricate frescoes by the Italian master Mateo Giovannetti.
How many Popes occupied the Palais de PAP before the papacy moved back to Rome?
-Seven Popes occupied the Palais de PAP before the papacy moved back to Rome in 1377.
What happened to the Palais de PAP during the French Revolution?
-During the French Revolution, the Palais de PAP was seized by revolutionaries.
What is the current status of the Palais de PAP?
-Today, the Palais de PAP is preserved as a museum where visitors can stroll through its halls.
What other monuments are located near the Palais de PAP?
-Nearby the Palais de PAP are the Cathedral of Notre Dame de dôme, the Petit Palais, and Rocher they'd own park.
What is the significance of the Saint Benezet bridge adjacent to the complex?
-The Saint Benezet bridge once spanned the Rhone River, and today, tourists can still stroll along the span where only four of the original 22 arches remain.
What is the best time to visit Avignon to avoid crowds?
-The best time to visit Avignon to avoid crowds is in the spring or fall.
Outlines
🏰 Avignon: Papal Seat and Gothic Palace
Avignon, located in the sunny south of France, is a city of significant architectural and cultural importance due to its history as the seat of the Catholic Church during the Avignon Papacy, also known as the Babylonian Captivity. This period, from 1309 to 1377, saw the construction of the Palais de Pape, the largest Gothic palace in Europe, which now houses a collection of intricate frescoes by Italian master Matteo Giovannetti. The city is also home to the Cathedral of Notre Dame des Doms, built in 1150, and the Petit Palais, which is now an art museum. Nearby is the Rocher des Doms park offering panoramic views, and the remnants of the Saint Benezet bridge, which once spanned the Rhône. Avignon is easily accessible and has a well-developed tourism infrastructure, with the recommendation to visit in spring or fall to avoid crowds.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Avignon
💡Avignon Papacy
💡Palais des Papes
💡Matteo Giovannetti
💡French Revolution
💡Notre-Dame des Doms
💡Petit Palais
💡Saint Benezet Bridge
💡Babylonian Captivity
💡Tourism infrastructure
Highlights
Avignon is located in the sunny south of France and is known for its architectural and cultural significance.
Avignon was once the seat of power for the Catholic Church.
The city's importance largely stems from its brief stint as a seat of the papacy.
The Avignon papacy was controversial within the church and lasted from 1309 to 1377.
The Palais de PAP is the largest Gothic palace in Europe and was constructed to house the Popes.
The palace was completed in less than twenty years in two phases.
The palace holds a collection of intricate frescoes by the Italian master Matteo Giovannetti.
Seven Popes occupied the palace before the papacy moved back to Rome in 1377.
After the French Revolution, the palace was seized by revolutionaries and later converted into military barracks and a prison.
Today, the palace is preserved as a museum and visitors can explore its halls and former private chambers of the Pope.
The Cathedral of Notre Dame de dôme, built in 1150, is a nearby monument.
The Petit Palais, once the residence of bishops, now houses an art museum with an extensive collection of works from the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
Rocher des Doms is a park with panoramic views of the Rhône River.
Adjacent to the complex is the remnants of the Saint Benezet bridge, which once spanned the Rhône.
Today, only four of the original 22 arches of the Saint Benezet bridge remain.
Tourists can still stroll along the Saint Benezet bridge.
Avignon has a well-developed tourism infrastructure making travel to the city simple.
The best time to visit Avignon to avoid crowds is in the spring or fall.
Transcripts
located on the sunny south of France
picturesque Avignon was once the seat of
power for the Catholic Church the
historic center of Avignon is known for
its architectural and cultural
significance both of which largely stem
from its brief stint as a seat of the
papacy Ivan Yuans role as residents of
the Pope's was relatively short-lived
the Avignon papacy or Babylonian
captivity as some dubbed it was
controversial within the church and
lasted only from 1309 to 1377 but it
left behind a lasting imprint on the
city beginning in 1335 a magnificent
palace was constructed to house the
Pope's completed in less than twenty
years in two phases the Palais de PAP is
the largest gothic palace in Europe the
palace also holds a collection of
intricate frescoes by the Italian master
Mateo Giovannetti 7 popes occupy the
palace before the papacy moved back to
Rome in 1377 with the palace and Avignon
were main property of the papacy until
the French Revolution when it was seized
by revolutionaries it was later
converted into military barracks and a
prison under Napoleon today the property
is preserved as a museum and visitors
can stroll through its halls in gander
at the former private chambers of the
Pope the palace is surrounded by other
monuments including the Cathedral of
Notre Dame de dôme which was built in
1150
nearby is the Petit Palais it was once
the residence of bishops and now houses
an art museum with an extensive
collection of works from the Middle Ages
and Renaissance a short stroll from the
cathedral is Rocher they'd own a park
with panoramic views of the wrong and
adjacent to the complex is the remnants
of the Saint Benezet bridge which once
spanned the Rhone today only four of the
original 22 arches remain but the
construction is solid enough that
tourists can still stroll along the span
luckily getting to Avignon is quite easy
and a well-developed tourism
infrastructure makes travel simple the
best way to avoid the crowds is to visit
in the spring or fall
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