| Page Views: 641 Last Visit to Avignon: August, 1995 | Moscow - Avignon by Kuznetsov_Sergey - last update: Mar 31, 2007 |
Europe's largest Gothic palace, the Papal Palace was built in the 14th century as a fortified palace for the pontifical court. Papal banquets held here were of tremendous proportions. A seven-language audioguide takes you around 24 of the palace's bare and undecorated stone halls, including the palace's Grande Chapelle, where temporary exhibitions are held.
A feast to celebrate Clement VI's coronation in 1342 comprised 118 oxen, 1033 spit-roasted sheep, 1195 geese, 7428 chickens, 50,000 sweet tarts, 39,980 eggs and 95,000 loaves of bread, among numerous other things. Since 1947 the Cours d'Honneur (Courtyard of Honour)
Avignon - the city on the coast of Rhone became world famous in the XIV century when it turned to the center of a Catholicism. It is named as the city of churches and bells. Still Rabelais named it "ringing city".
In 1309 Pope Clement the Fifth transferred the administration there from Rome. Such decision was then geographically and politically proved. First, the country at this time experienced the period of the relative peace. |
|  | The city belonged to Charles Anzhu - to the governor of Provence who was the true vassal of the church. He was at that time the king of Naples. Since 1274 the Catholic papal church had in the property nearby a site of the ground. Avignon laid on crossing of many roads and was convenient for the international communications.
Pope John XXII moved to Avignon completely, and Pope Benedict XII in 1334-1342 started to build a papal palace which was named the Old palace. It differs by its strict architecture. Civil work got the greatest scope in 1342-1352 at Pope Clement VI. He constructed the New Palace which differs by its luxury. |
| | Some more Popes - Vincent VI, Urban V and George XI ruled the church from Avignon till 1376 when the residence of Popes was officially returned to Rome. However till 1411 the period of simultaneous existence of two residences and two Popes - lawful Roman and illegal Avignon was prolonged.
This period has the name "the period of solitary life Avignon false Popes": Clement VII, Benedict XIII. Portraits of seven lawful and two illegal Popes hang in the Consistory of the palace. |
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Kuznetsov_Sergey's Avignon Travel Tips
| Overview | Things to Do
Tips: 4 - Photos: 7 | | | | Restaurants | Hotels & Accommodations | | | | Nightlife | Off The Beaten Path
Tips: 2 - Photos: 2 | | | | Tourist Traps | Warnings Or Dangers | | | | Transportation | Local Customs | | | | Packing Lists | Shopping | | | | Sports Travel | General Tips |
 Kuznetsov_Sergey's Avignon Travelogues | | | |
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 Comments for Kuznetsov_Sergey about Avignon | | | | |
JLBG Mon Jul 21, 2008 06:00 UTC
At school, every child in France learns to sing "Sur le Pont d'Avignon, l'on y danse, etc..." | yumyum Sun Sep 16, 2007 17:01 UTC
When I was a teenager I always wanted to come here, but I never made it. | LoriPori Mon Aug 27, 2007 18:22 UTC
Loved Avignon, esp. the Papal Palace and the Pont D'Avignon. | globetrott Sun Apr 1, 2007 22:22 UTC
an interesting page, Sergey, the papal palace looks great ! |
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