Palais des Papes

Incredible integration of technology with the “iPad” tour. This is one of the coolest places I’ve ever seen and the art installation was so interesting! Honestly could have spent a whole day here but capped it at 3 hours… good idea to eat first because you can stay here for hours. GREAT for families and kids. So much to see

Very interesting. So much better than the crazy tourist traffic and the hundreds of tour groups you have to wade through to see the Sistine Chapel. Low fees, no lines, very little crowding, and amazing history. Definitely a not to miss site. We visited the palace, gardens and bridge.

We were a group of 4 adults and we were happy we visited it. We found the history interesting. 2 of us has the tablets for the virtual tour. The devices have a great interactive experience and available in multiple languages. They weren't always the most user friendly and often even glitchy so that was a bit frustrating. For instance, you can scan the QR code and see a rendering of the space to show you what it used to look like and silhouettes of people and where they could've been in the rooms. This was very cool! But then, it's like the experience would time out and it wouldn't always let you go back to continue looking at it. 2 of us didn't want to be carrying tablets and chose to share instead, so the timing out was frustrating and if you don't have it, there's not a whole lot to look at in the rooms and information mostly in French with some signage in multiple languages or at least English. The garden area was nice and climbing up the stairs and around the base of the roof we had done nice views. We liked it enough and would even recommend if you go there to do it, but we wouldn't go back.

Everything is massive in this fortress and palace at the same time that was built in two stages. The Old Palace (1335–1342) built by Pope Benedict XII and the New Palace (1342–1352) Pope Clement VI, the Magnificent. It's one of the largest medieval gothic buildings in Europe. Seven successive French popes resided here between 1309 and 1377, fleeing the political turmoil and insecurity in Rome, When you enter you get a Histopad which is a handy tablet which you can use to navigate through the building. A nice feature is the historic overlay that you activate by scanning a logos in the different rooms. The overlay then shows the situation as it would be in 1352, the year of completion of the palace and the Papal Conclave and Election of Innocent VI after Pope Clement VI died. The rather dull interiors are brightend a bit by modern art. The garden is small and really not worth the extra money you hsve to pay to visit it. It took me two hours to see all the rooms and climb up to the ramparts to get a view of the surrounding area. Oh, and the taste in the 14th century is different from today. Roasted peacock anyone? And a glass of Chateau-Neuf-du-Pape ?

Possibly the most overrated and disappointing attraction I’ve been to. The painting rooms are beautiful yes but otherwise you get these empty rooms to walk around. The outside is also impressive to look at. A tablet shows what it used to look like and I wish it still did because its modern version is dreadfully dull, empty and boring. I imagine if it wasn’t linked to the pope or religion it wouldn’t be rated so highly.

Amazing and unique historical place about the popes of Avignon. The virtual visit with an “iPad” is really great making it more interactive and creating the “original” environment and atmosphere. Some nice modern sculptures and installation of an actual artist makes the visit great!

Fascinating collection of buildings in Avignon detailing the time of the 'Avignon Popes' in France. I found the Histopad guide wasn't particularly helpful, but the rest of the displays were great. Interesting artwork integrated throughout. The gardens were especially nice.

An interesting, if slightly disappointing, point of interest. The structure is amazing. A palace and fortress, it commands your attention. However, the interior is sterile. No furniture, tapestries, or frescoes. Only a couple chambers with faded wall coloration. Without the current art exhibition it would be largely colorless. The tour is also relatively short. There must be large sections not accessible to the public. The garden is neat and well cared for, but small. With all this in mind, it is still worth visiting for its historical significance and the architecture. Note: the iPad guidance is quite good. Take time to read the information boards placed throughout the tour. Get tickets in advance online for a timed entry.

Really enjoyed the Palace of the Popes. Fascinating history and I had only heard a little about the fake Popes before. Beautiful building and especially enjoyed the modern art installation inside.

Wow what an amazing building. We were here for an after hours classical concert. Definitely a must visit when visiting the area.

Listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco, the Popes' Palace is one of the 10 most visited monuments in France with 650,000 visitors per year. A true symbol of the influence of Western Christianity in the 14th century, this 15,000m2 masterpiece of a monument is the largest medieval fortress and biggest gothic palace of Europe. Walking around the building, I could see the immense size of it...it's huge... I took many pictures of the outside walls and towers, really pretty. Built in less then 20 years starting in 1335, the Popes' Palace is the amalgamation of two palaces built by two popes: Benedict XII, who built the Old Palace to the east and north, and his successor Clement VI who built the New Palace to the south and west. In the 14th century, the Popes' Palace was occupied by 7 popes and 2 popes of the Papal Schism before the return of the papacy to Rome. Occupied by the Legates and Vice-Legates starting in the 15th century then transformed into a garrison until 1906, it has undergone various restoration work since. Most recently, the Trouillas Tower has regained its past appearance. The tower houses the 11 stories of the Departmental Archives and its height of 52 metres makes you dizzy as you look up at it from the terrace of the Utopia Manutention Cinema.

It is about 3.5 stars for the visit. It is a big compound, it need 2 hours to finish. Palais des Papes is meaning Palace for the Pope. Six papal conclaves were held in the Palais. It is part of UNESCO world heritage site. The building completed at early 13th century. It was built on the natural rock overlooking Rhône River. This bull has sanctuary, cloister, vegetable garden, grand hall, tomb, and more. This is a castle palace with a lot of stair. Not a handicap friendly access. I like some of the room with historical painting. Some of the has wall paper like paint painting. Overall, I think this palace is empty. Not much to see. The tickets is a combo ticket you can see three different things. It is a city of difficult to find your way.

Walking to the Palais Des Papes, there is so much to see in the square . The cobblestone roads, the cafe/restaurant , it's all so picturesque. Lots of stores down the road too We did this with a group of high school kids and what was great, they could go at their own pace. They give you headphones and tablet. Has a little scavenger hunt too. Tablet would show very cool images of what it would have looked like back in the days. Amazing!!! Lots of walking and areas to sit down too.

Big building with big empty rooms. The iPad guide is free but a waste of time. As hot inside as outside 107degrees. They need to invest in guided earphones to guide people as they walk around. Not suitable for people with walking impairments, prisms, older people with walking steps issues.

We got the audio guide. I hesitate to call it and audio guide because it was visual and audio. Some of the rooms are sparse so the audio guide really helped to create an image of how the rooms were used at time the popes lived there. The guide also had a small game finding coins that would be good for entertaining kids. I was not expecting such a well thought visual/audio guide. But don't let looking at the tablet stop you from also taking in the scenes around you. Obviously it doesn't have air conditioning so it can get warm in there. It's an interesting story from history and well worth a stop when your in Avigion.

This is probably the most stunning visit to a historic site I can remember. The tablets are a unbelievable piece of technology. You scan into a empty room and then you hold up the tablet and it shows what it might have looked like centuries ago. Quite incredible.

This visit was part of a tour supplied conducted by our river cruise operator. I was concerned that this would turn out to be another low-grade touristy walking tour. However, our guide narrated the first-rate tour with all of the histories of the time and place of the Palace of the Popes. Even with a fairly large crowd in the heat of July, we were pleased with the tour and impressed with the history of this historic place. Tip: Wear comfortable shoes. A tour is recommended, otherwise you will miss too much.

Honestly my husband and I usually breeze through museums and historic sights but this palace was such a treat to visit! The audio guide with VR iPad which comes free with ticket is awesome. It allows you to see the palace rooms as they were during the 13th century and explains what each room was used for. There is a also a treasure hunt game built into the guide where you need to discover a coin hidden in each room. Great for kids! We really enjoyed this. We also visited during the "Festival of the Lights" called "Vibrations" when after dark the palace has a light show in the main courtyard and it's truly worth the extra ticket. Loved this day & night!

It was such a disappointment on today's visit. No warning for bad hips people- there were many stairs and so difficult to navigate. The tablets were a total distraction and did not work half of the time. When we ready to leave we were not allowed to exit the front entrance and had to go down a steep flight of stairs to the gift shop. Then we were lost and took us so much time to find our way back. Oh , more steps ! We will not go back ever and advise you not to go. Not interesting at all. I really want to give them 0 star but not an option here.

A really important part of French and European history, the Palais des Papes is remarkably well-preserved, and also features a great audio guide that will help you through this set of buildings. A must-see if you're in Avignon. This is the place that put it on the map for the world, as it was already an important regional city before the Popes started living here.

Boring. I thought this "Palace of the Popes" would be more interesting, but it wasn't. I was glad there was an audio guide that was informative, which bumped this review from 2 to 3 stars. Without the audio guide, this historic landmark would be painfully boring. When you enter, you expect to see something, but you go from one empty room to the next. The Audio guide explains what was in some of the rooms and their purpose, but without visual aides, it's hard to imagine it all. After a while on the tour, I got the idea. This is where the popes went when they got kicked out of Italy. Ok, I was done and was ready to go, but No. There is no quick exit. My husband speaks basic French and asked some of the people who worked there how we could leave and we were always directed to the next room. We ended up getting stuck in this place for over an hour. If you enter, realize it's a commitment to a lot of empty rooms and no quick way out. Also, there are tons and tons of stairs, may more than my bad knee had expected. I know that this is a historic place and if you are really interested in the history of the popes, then you might find this place interesting, otherwise, just check it out from the outside and then move on to the rest of Avignon which is much more interesting. The audio guide makes it almost bearable. I thought maybe this was just my problem with it, but even my travel companions who were really interested in the popes and their history were bored by this place.

There is a huge garden behind Papal Palace that I'm not sure many people frequent but it's really nice. Great views of the bridge and other chateaus in the distance. We didnt see that many people around, which is fabulous since we almost had the garden to ourselves during our visit. There is a large courtyard too, and some water fountains with koi fish. There's even a children's playground there as well. :)

A lot of history to learn in this place. It took us about four hours to complete self guided tour. We enjoyed, wish to have more than one cafeteria with outside seating. It definitely worth it your time. Should be your first choice on your stay in Avignon.

When in Avignon, one must visit the Papal Palace. This place has so much history and architecture to admire. We had a scheduled group visit and there are lots of tourists and visitors. As I walked through the various rooms in the palace, I tried to imagine what it must be like as a Pope living here through the centuries. You can easily spend a few hours exploring and learning about its history. After that, you can people watch in the courtyard, listen to musicians, and perhaps explore the nearby shops around the Plaza.

This is an interesting place to visit in Europe. I went on a Mediterranean cruise that stopped in Marseilles, France. I had no idea what excursion I would go in Marseilles, France and my father wouldn't tell me. I guess I had to sit on the tour bus for an hour and fifteen minutes and arrive in Avignon to find out what I would be seeing. The Popes' Palace is a Gothic architecture building from the 14th Century. Pope Clement V wanted to avoid the chaos in Rome. It was the seat of Western Christianity in the 14th Century, but eventually the popes' residence went back to Rome. The palace is very cold and empty. It's hard to imagine what life was like when this palace was used by popes, but it is very simple and austere. It's a fun place to visit especially if you are Catholic. Near this old palace is a bustling area with restaurants.

Had an amazing experience at the castle; the guided audio + digitally visual tour was informative, interactive, and really cool. The castle itself is huge and impressive; with gorgeous frescos chipping away with age and crumbly stone walls holding many secrets. Unfortunately certain towers were under renovation so our tour was a little cut short but we really enjoyed it nonetheless! Definitely a recommended activity/experience during your stay in Avignon!

Very fun and beautiful place! I went through the palace without an audio guide / tablet to assist me, and I know now that was a mistake. Get the audio tablet and you'll enjoy it even more. However, just walking through it was enjoyable and surreal. There's not a TON to take in just touring it without the guide. So, moral of it all. Get that, and you'll enjoy the palace. When I went it was 13 euros to enter.

What a magnificent place. There are lots of grounds to walk around, gardens, ponds with ducks and breath taking views from the city and its surroundings. We didn't take the inside tour since it was said to last over 2 hours and we only had a day in the city. We decided to walk around the palace and also follow the path inside to the gardens and walking paths. It was a beautiful and warm spring day

Probably the reason why you are in Avignon. And it's the right reason. If you are a bit interested into history, or at least you visit places because you want to learn something and not just in order to get back home and say "I've been there" You must visit this place. And you'll enjoy it. A lot. Take the audioguide (which is very well-made) and let this place bring back yourself to hundreds years ago, this is one of the most extraordinary places in the World

If you are here, you will see it. If you can, learn a bit of the history and see the light spectacle ( i give that 5 stars!!!). Amazing time of when the popes were in France!!

I never visited a building that impressing before. The first impression are the dimensions. This palace is unbelievable huge! And it's extremely beautiful. If you go inside you can rent an electronic guide. Needless to say that everybody should do this. The rooms, the interior and the history are described very well. Even our son did listen very interested to all the information given. Everybody who has the opportunity to visit this place should take it. Very, very impressing in size, beauty and history!

So I have dreamed of coming here for around 20 years. The historical significance is great. In my opinion this place Kaye's fallow for me this place laid followed for centuries. What you see is basically a sanded down a stripped papal palace. You do see a grand hall that is barren, which does remind you of the space in the Sistine chapel. The bottom line is if you want to see where Catherine of Sienna came to talk to the pope, then come. If you are on a time budget, definitely skip it or move in.

This place was awesome. I'm not typically one for museums and touristy stuff, but my parents dragged me along and I'm so glad they did! Did you know that for a while we had two popes and at one point, we had three?! Crazy.

Impressive on the outside, complete waste of time on the inside. Everything from the palace has been stripped away (except a few select rooms). The rest of the time you are walking around empty chambers reading of the significance of each room and pictures that beg you to use your imagination. The whole experience could have been replaced with a 20 minute Wikipedia session.

Great job on the self guided tour with VR tablets. Enjoyed collecting all the coins. Absolutely worth a visit.

Firstly I must say that I absolutely love Avignon - it is my favourite place in the world! I have been there several times and cannot wait to go back. The Pope's Palace is almost a magical place. It is a beautiful building in a beautiful setting. It is well worth going inside and doing a tour. If you do not speak french you can hire an audio guide which explains all the history of the Palace. I found it absolutely fascinating. It is nice just to sit in the square with a coffee and gaze at the Palace.

I knew a lot about the history of the building before going so it was exciting to get to see something I'd heard so much about. The building is beautiful and it was exciting to see if you know about church history. The views from the top give a good view of the city and surrounding area but there are better views from the park nearby.

I was a bit disappointed that the rooms were empty - I'd thought they might be furnished. The audio guide is very interesting. It's a rather large place, so be forewarned. I enjoy history, so, on the whole, enjoyed it.