🏰 Historic Centre of Avignon: Papal Palace, Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge
Medieval seat of papal power in southern France
📋 Fast Facts
- UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995
- Papal Palace built 1309–1377, largest Gothic palace in Europe
- Avignon Bridge (Pont Saint-Bénézet) dates to the 12th century
- Located in Avignon, Provence, southeastern France
Avignon's historic centre comprises three interconnected monuments that document a pivotal period in European Church history. The Papal Palace dominated the skyline as the residence of the Papacy during its relocation from Rome (1309–1377), while the Episcopal Ensemble—including Notre-Dame-des-Doms Cathedral and the Petit Palais—formed the religious complex surrounding it. The partially ruined Avignon Bridge, spanning the Rhône River, remains a striking example of medieval engineering despite ...