Religious Sights in Avignon — 5 of Our Favourites

The museum houses a number of permanent collections of Italian painters, local sculptors and painters from the school of Avignon, as well as a number of temporary collections and exhibitions.

There is a tea room on site, you can enjoy a snack and a rink in the courtyard, which is open from 10:00 - 18:00 except Tuesdays.

Admission price:

6 euros or 3 euros per person in a group of 10.

During the first twenty years of construction, the 'Tower of Angels' and the Great Chapel were built along with a cloister and two stout towers for defence purposes.

Pope Clement VI added more towers, the Great Audience Hall and the Honour Courtyard ten years later. The palace is full of frescoes, hidden staircases, terraces, apartments and chapels.

The Palais des Papes hosts many cultural events throughout the year.

The name of this cathedral "Notre-Dame des Doms" comes from the latin Domus episcopali meaning "from the Bishop's house". Historians tend to believe that from the 4th century onward there was here a basilica and close to it the bishop's residence. Destroyed by the Saracens in 731, it was rebuilt and consecrated on October 8, 1111.

In recent years, the cathedral, which belongs to the French state like all existing churches built prior to 1905, has been restored and enhanced in more than one way. For example the carillon now includes 35 bells ringing liturgical melodies all year long.

The cathedral also holds two organs :

• On the one hand the Italianate gilded organ in the gallery was built by Lodovico Piantanida from Lombardy. It was restored in 2005 by "Fabrica d'organi Mascioni" from Azzio (Province of Varese, Italy).
• On the other hand, there is in the choir a 1902 organ by Cavaillé-Coll which was restored in 1954 by Puget of Toulouse, France.

In the chapel devoted to Jean XXII, you will find various priceless religious objects, reliquaries and vestments belonging to the diocese of Avignon.

Masses are held daily, early morning during the weeks at around 8:00am and at 10:00am on Sundays.

During the Revolution, the monastery suffered terrible damage but it has since been lovingly restored. With monks cells, kitchen, a chapel and pretty gardens to see, you can wander around yourself or take a guided tour.

The Chartreuse is home to playwrights and artists who can lodge here for free for up to a year.

There are beautiful gardens inside the Abbey with terraces, rosebeds and a pergola. The views of the Rhone Valley and Avignon are spectacular. The Fort is open to the public throughout the year for a small fee.