The largest Gothic building in Europe, built across the 14th century when seven successive popes ruled from Avignon rather than Rome. The vast halls — stripped of their original furnishings during the Revolution — convey the sheer scale of papal power and wealth. The frescoed private chapel of Clement VI is the most visually impressive room. Allow two hours minimum.
Palais des Papes
Largest Gothic palace in Europe, seat of seven medieval popes
A story
Seven popes ruled from Avignon between 1309 and 1377, not Rome — a period the Italians called the Babylonian Captivity of the Church. The palace they built is the largest Gothic building in Europe, a monument to the period when the papacy was effectively a French institution.