Here, the influence of the Papal presence is felt everywhere you turn. Both magnificent architecture and subtle details are there to be seen. Churches and synagogues, towers and vestiges, religious architecture can be the guiding line of your journey and accompanies you everywhere you go.
AVIGNON
St. Peter’s Basilica or Provencal flamboyant Gothic
Most of the time, you will come across a random city walk. Well hidden in a small cobbled square away from view, the Saint-Pierre church is worth it to seek, explore and stop in front of the beauties of its facade all lace , its doors in massive walnut richly carved. If its reconstruction dates from 1358, the decorations of its facade so special and rich in ornaments date back to 1512.
Once the doors are crossed, the interior is equally remarkable with its woodwork, an altarpiece, pulpit or paintings, including a “worship of Shepherds” Simon de Chalons.
Information at the presbytery from 9:30 to 11:30. Free admission, no visit during the services.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
The splendour of the Cathedral of Notre Dame des Doms, the ornate façade of the Church of Saint-Pierre and the peaceful serenity of the Charterhouse Val de Bénédiction? No need to choose, see them all…
FORGOTTEN CHAPELS
Treasures of Provençal Gothic architecture, wonders of Baroque art … chapels from many eras and confessions can be seen on request.
AVIGNON
The Basilica Notre Dame des Doms, a masterpiece of Romanesque art
With its golden Virgin that catches the eye under the hot sun of summer, the Notre Dame des Doms Basilica is a must-see for your Avignon visit. Dating back to 1150, it is enlarged with side chapels in the 14th and 17th centuries. Erected on the Rocher des Doms, its position dominates the city and allows it to be seen from the banks of the Rhone in Villeneuve to the summit of the Alpilles. Its porch is adorned with frescoes by the Italian painter Simone Martini completed in 1343.
The funeral chapel of Pope John XXII contains the diocesan treasure consisting of many liturgical ornaments and sacred vessels. Considered one of the masterpieces of Provençal Romanesque art, it is adjacent to the Palais des Papes and the Petit Palais, giving the place of the same name an incomparable religious and historical heritage.
Open from September to June: Monday to Saturday from 7h to 12h30 and from 14h to 18h30; Sunday afternoon from 14h to 18h30. In July and August: Monday to Saturday from 7am to 6.30pm; Sunday afternoon from 14h to 18h30. Free admission (do not disturb during religious services).
A neoclassical synagogue
Still active, the synagogue of Avignon was rebuilt after a fire in 1846. Listed in the inventory of Historic Monuments, this religious building is the witness of the centuries-old presence of the Jewish community in Avignon. The old ghetto was at the top of the current district of Libra. The current synagogue, which still houses Jewish worship, was rebuilt by architect Joseph-Auguste Joffroy. A neoclassical rotunda supported by white columns is the prayer room. Another characteristic common to the Comtadine synagogues is the absence of the seat of Elijah.
VILLENEUVE LEZ AVIGNON
The Chartreuse of the Val de Bénédiction, one of the largest in France
Founded in the fourteenth century by Pope Innocent VI very attached to the order of the Carthusians, the Chartreuse of the Val de Bénédiction with its three cloisters surrounded by 40 cells and gardens, is one of the largest in France. In the special chapel of Pope Innocent VI, there are also frescoes by the Italian painter Matteo Giovannetti, who has also frescoed one of the chapels of the Popes’ Palace.
On peut toujours visiter l’ancienne chapelle et l’église où se trouve le tombeau d’Innocent VI, les cloîtres et les cellules de Chartreux. La Chartreuse – Centre national des écritures du spectacle – accueille aussi depuis plus de quarante ans des résidences d’écriture et de créations théâtrales et présente des spectacles, en lien notamment avec le festival d’Avignon.
From October to March from 10h to 17h. From April to September from 9:30 to 18:30. Last access 30 minutes before closing. Closed 1st / 01, 1st / 05, 1st and 11/11, 25/12 and the first two weeks of January. Guided tours by reservation every day in July and August. Boutique bookstore, digital spaces, café-library from Tuesday to Saturday from 1:30 pm to 5 pm, summer gardens and summer restaurant from June to the end of August.