Popes' Palace (Palais des Papes)

The imposing Palais des Papes towers over Avignon and dates back to the time when the Provençal city was the centre of the Christian world after the papacy was moved here from Rome in 1309. Although the papacy moved back to Rome in 1377, Avignon remained the property of the Holy See and was used to house members of the Papacy. Various popes added to the buildings during the Middle Ages, creating the largest Gothic palace in Europe, and today visitors can visit many of the rooms. The Great Chapel, also built by Clement VI, is spectacular and is more like a cathedral than a chapel in terms of size. The palace also gave its name to the famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine, and regular tastings are held in a new wine store located in the heart of the palace.
Air: Marseille-Provence Airport. Rail: Train: High-speed TGV services to Avignon (from Paris Gare de Lyon, Montpellier, Barcelona and Lyon). Road: Car: A7 or A9 (from Lyon, Marseille and Nîmes).