Provence, as a region, is full of incredibly beautiful sights from endless lavender fields, to ancient monasteries, to stunning beaches, to perfectly pretty medieval towns full of architectural gems. If you have found a vacation rental in Provence and are exploring the region and you are looking for particularly lovely examples of the latter, we recommend a visit to the gorgeous town of Avignon in France and to the Palais des Papes.
In 1305, Clement V was elected as Pope and famously made the decision to transfer papal power to Avignon in order to avoid the political unrest of Rome at the time. With this move, a new home for the papal seat was required and the largest medieval gothic palace in the world was built upon the foundations of an old Episcopal bishop's palace. This building, though begun under Clement V was greatly expanded under Benedict XII in 1334 and then even further under Clement VI in 1342 when he joined Benedict XII's Palais Vieux (Old Palace) and the Palais Neuf (New Palace). All of these extensions and this expansion eventually added up to create the monumental gem full of incredible objects and a rich and complex history that we know today; it covers a whopping 15,000 square metres, boasts ten fortified towers, was home to Europe's largest library at the time, excellent frescoes and fresco cycles, and much more besides.
In 1305, Clement V was elected as Pope and famously made the decision to transfer papal power to Avignon in order to avoid the political unrest of Rome at the time. With this move, a new home for the papal seat was required and the largest medieval gothic palace in the world was built upon the foundations of an old Episcopal bishop's palace. This building, though begun under Clement V was greatly expanded under Benedict XII in 1334 and then even further under Clement VI in 1342 when he joined Benedict XII's Palais Vieux (Old Palace) and the Palais Neuf (New Palace). All of these extensions and this expansion eventually added up to create the monumental gem full of incredible objects and a rich and complex history that we know today; it covers a whopping 15,000 square metres, boasts ten fortified towers, was home to Europe's largest library at the time, excellent frescoes and fresco cycles, and much more besides.
