Papal Palace, Avignon Photos

The Papal Palace (Palais des Papes) consists of two joined medieval and Gothic papal residences which date from the 14th C when the Catholic church moved here from Rome and then split from the Vatican. Six popes built and resided in Avignon: Benedict XII (1334), Clement VI (1342), Innocent VI (1352), Urban V (1362), Gregory XI (1370) and Antipope Benedict XIII (1394). The mostly bare rooms, several with famous murals, are explained with electronic tablets which visitors carry to obtain images of what the halls once looked like. The Palace also displays part of the Calvet Museum collection.

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Papal Palace seen from Rhone River. Avignon, France.Papal Palace above Avignon town walls. Avignon, France.Papal Palace with Avignon Cathedral beyond. Avignon, France.Avignon Cathedral beside Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Papal Palace seen from Rhone River. Avignon, France.Papal Palace above Avignon town walls. Avignon, France.Papal Palace with Avignon Cathedral beyond. Avignon, France.Avignon Cathedral beside Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Papal Palace entrance. Avignon, France.Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Fenestration atop Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Papal Palace entrance. Avignon, France.Papal Palace (1340s-50s). Avignon, France.Papal Palace (1340s-50s). Avignon, France.Fenestration atop Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Facade details of Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Rear towers of Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Inner courtyard of Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Papal Palace tower & gilded statue of Mary atop Avignon Cathedral. Avignon, France.
Facade details of Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Rear towers of Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Inner courtyard of Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Papal Palace tower & gilded statue of Mary atop Avignon Cathedral. Avignon, France.
Ramparts of Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Octagonal roofs above entry portal of Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Gothic audience window on inner courtyard of Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Stone keystone carved with Paschal lamb at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Ramparts of Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Octagonal roofs above entry portal of Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Gothic audience window on inner courtyard of Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Stone keystone carved with Paschal lamb (14thC) at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Carved stone grotesque man with beard at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Carved stone plaque of dedication of Avignon Church of St Stephen at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Paintings by Simone Martini at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Sketch for fresco of Christ with angels by Simone Martini at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Carved stone grotesque man with beard (14thC) at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Carved stone plaque of dedication of Avignon Church of St Stephen (12thC) at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Paintings by Simone Martini (1330s-40s) at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Sketch for fresco of Christ with angels (1340) by Simone Martini at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Sketch for fresco of Virgin Mary with angels by Simone Martini at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Fresco of Christ with angels by Simone Martini at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Partial sketch for fresco of Virgin Mary at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Painted wall decorations in papal vestry at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Sketch for fresco of Virgin Mary with angels (1340) by Simone Martini at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Fresco of Christ with angels (1340) by Simone Martini at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Partial sketch for fresco of Virgin Mary at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Painted wall decorations in papal vestry at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Remains of wall frescos in Chamberlain's old chamber at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Remains of painted ceiling beams in Chamberlain's old chamber at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Fireplace arch & oven in treasure room at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Hidden underfloor safe in treasure room at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Remains of wall frescos in Chamberlain's old chamber at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Remains of painted ceiling beams in Chamberlain's old chamber at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Fireplace arch & oven in treasure room at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Hidden underfloor safe in treasure room at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Safe hidden under liftable stone floor blocks in treasure room at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Stained glass in treasure room at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Sculpted bone objects found in vaults under floor of treasure room at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Papal coins with faces & symbols of Avignon popes at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Safe hidden under liftable stone floor blocks in treasure room at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Stained glass in treasure room at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Sculpted bone objects (14thC) found in vaults under floor of treasure room at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Papal coins (14thC) with faces & symbols of Avignon popes at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Iron lock from Avignon's St Michael tabernacle at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Grand Tinel papal banqueting hall at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Kitchen chimney interior at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Surviving stone tiles at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Iron lock from Avignon's St Michael tabernacle (14thC) at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Grand Tinel papal banqueting hall at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Kitchen chimney interior at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Surviving stone tiles at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Surviving ceramic floor tiles at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Surviving ceramic floor tiles with rabbit & animal paintings at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Surviving ceramic floor tiles with bird & fish paintings at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Frescoed vines in papal apartments at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Surviving ceramic floor tiles at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Surviving ceramic floor tiles with rabbit & animal paintings at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Surviving ceramic floor tiles with bird & fish paintings at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Frescoed vines in papal apartments at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Gothic decorations in papal apartments at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Frescoed hunting scene in papal apartments at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Frescoed fish pond scene by Simone Martini in papal apartments at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Northern Sacristy in New Palace with collection of sculptures at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Gothic decorations in papal apartments at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Frescoed hunting scene in papal apartments at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Frescoed fish pond scene by Simone Martini in papal apartments at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Northern Sacristy in New Palace with collection of sculptures at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Altarpiece of Christ carrying cross plaster replica of 1478 original at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Plaster mold of coat of arms of French cardinal Philippe d'Alençon at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Tomb of Cardinal Philippe d'Alençon at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Gothic stonework & fresco of Pius V in Southern Sacristy at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Altarpiece of Christ carrying cross plaster replica (20thC) of 1478 original at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Plaster mold of coat of arms of French cardinal Philippe d'Alençon at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Tomb of Cardinal Philippe d'Alençon (after 1397) at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Gothic stonework & fresco of Pius V in Southern Sacristy at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Portraits of Popes of Avignon at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Reception of Queen Joan by Pope Clement VI who then sold Avignon to him painting by Emile Lagier at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Ceiling painted with old testament figures at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Art objects from Esprit Calvet Museum displayed in Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Portraits of Popes of Avignon at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Reception of Queen Joan by Pope Clement VI who then sold Avignon to him painting (1887) by Emile Lagier at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Ceiling painted with old testament figures at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Art objects from Esprit Calvet Museum displayed in Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Roman stone funerary mask of tragic figure at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Roman stone funerary stele of Doryphoros from northern Syria at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Collection of Roman glass at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Blue & white Imperial Roman glass bowl at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Roman stone funerary mask of tragic figure (2ndC) at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Roman stone funerary stele of Doryphoros (2nd-3rd C) from northern Syria at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Collection of Roman glass (1st-2ndC) at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Blue & white Imperial Roman glass bowl (1stC) at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Heaven on Earth painting after Hans Bocksberger at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Enameled copper cover for cup by workshop of Pierre Raeymond of Limoges at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Roman marble heads of satyr & Pan on later Italian mounts at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Macabre vanity painting of death at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Heaven on Earth painting (16thC) after Hans Bocksberger at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Enameled copper cover for cup (2nd half 16thC) by workshop of Pierre Raeymond of Limoges at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Roman marble heads of satyr & Pan on later Italian mounts at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Macabre vanity painting of death (17thC) at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.
Portrait of art collector Esprit Calvet by Philippe Sauvan at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Cathédrale Notre-Dame des Doms d'Avignon. Avignon, France.Gilded statue of Mary atop Avignon Cathedral. Avignon, France.Building built to mint coins under Pope Paul V by Jean-François de Bagni, papal legate on Palace Square. Avignon, France.
Portrait of art collector Esprit Calvet (c1780) by Philippe Sauvan at Papal Palace. Avignon, France.Cathédrale Notre-Dame des Doms d'Avignon (12th, 14th & 17thC). Avignon, France.Gilded statue of Mary atop Avignon Cathedral. Avignon, France.Building built to mint coins under Pope Paul V (1619) by Jean-François de Bagni, papal legate on Palace Square. Avignon, France.
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All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.

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