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POPES' PALACE in Avignon

Avignon #Architecture, #Culture, #Economie, #Histoire, #Patrimoine, #Tourisme,
Le Palais des Papes, depuis Villeneuve les Avignon

AVIGNON, THE POPES' PALACE 

"From the corner of a small backstreet,
my eyes fell upon a huge stone arch
with flying buttresses above
the lane. I looked up;
I was at the foot of the Popes’ Palace. "
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, Impressions de voyage
 
"One cannot conceive of anything more beautiful in its simplicity or grander in its conception. This is the Papacy, standing sublime, immortal, extending its majestic shadow on the river of nations and of the centuries rolling at it’s feet. "
Du vandalisme en France - Letter to Mr. Victor Hugo,
Written by Mr. Charles de Montalembert about the Palace
 
Listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO alongside the historic centre of Avignon and the Pont Saint-Benezet (otherwise known as the "Pont d'Avignon"), this monument, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture from the middle ages, was the seat of Christianity in the fourteenth century. From its initial construction to its completion as we know it today, the best architects, painters, fresco painters and scholars of the time have passed through its doors, all willing to praise what is still considered the largest Gothic building in existence.
 
Seeking refuge in Provence because of the troubles they were experiencing on the Italian peninsula, the first Popes clashed with the emperor Louis IV of Bavaria after JeanXXIIhad declared him,in 1323, an enemyof the Church and ausurper, and thenexcommunicated him.If Jean XXIIwas the first tosettle inAvignon, there is almostno traceof the work hedid there.Sincethe yearof his coronation in 1335, under the supervisionof the architectPierrePeysson, his successorBenedict XIIbeganbuilding thepartnow known as the "Old Palace". Hewanted to createa fortressoffering both protection fromthe enemy and the centralisation of the papal administration, in order to carry out the mission entrusted to him. He explained his motives to Cardinal Pierre des Pres in the following way: "We have given this matter careful consideration and concluded that it is hugely important to the Roman Church to have, in the city of Avignon, where the Roman court has been established for many years, a special palace where the Roman pontiff can live for as long as he feels it necessary. "
Perched on the Rocher des Doms, overlooking the city of Avignon, the palace became majestic, impressing its nearby neighbour states on the other side of the Rhone with its sheer size, and being protected from the damage caused by the frequent flooding of the rebellious river.
 
Despite the extensive work already done, when Clement VI was elected he found the "palace" unworthy of him and as early as the summer of 1342, demanded that a new project be started which would meet a higher level of aspirations, and thus the "New Palace "was built.
 
Other than creating the “New Palace”, Clement VI finished up destroying the few remnants of the work of Jean XXII, including his courtroom which at the time was located in the heart of what has become the main courtyard. In the Old Palace, magnificent frescoes created ​​by students of the Italian School, notably Simone Martini and Matteo Giovanetti, over time covered the walls and the coat of arms of Roger, the family behind the Pope, completed the wonderful facade of the Champeaux door. This coat of arms “silver with a band of azure blue with six double-flowered rose" is still visible above the door.
 
In total the area of the building amounts to 6,400 m2 and can accommodate over 1,500 people as well as the consolidation of 2,000 volumes of books which were, at that time, the largest library in Europe, to the delight of numerous literature lovers, including the now famous Pétrarque.
 
On June 9, 1348, Clement VI purchased the city of Avignon for 80,000 florins, thus giving it its independence by becoming a papal property, the same as the ‘Comtat Venaissin’ (the area between the Mont Ventoux and the Luberon valley)
 
The return to its origins was envisioned by Urbain V, then carried on by Gregoire XI, who considered that only the place that houses the tomb of the first pontiff could be fit to be called the seat of the papacy.
 
With peace finally coming to the Papal States and with the reconciliation between Orthodox and Latin Christians, the return to Rome was started. In spite of the difficulties faced in organising the repatriation of the entire papal court and the refusal from the Court of France, which foresaw it’s control disappearing, the return was completed in 1376.
 
After this departure, the palace continued to host two “popes” (unrecognised by the church), and then, until the eighteenth century, cardinals, legates and then vice-legates. In the end, six conclaves were held in Avignon which gave to the papacy PopesBenoit XII, Clément VI, Innocent VI, Urbain V, Gregoire XI and Benoit XIII.
 
At the time of the French Revolution, the palace was the scene of a massacre, known as the "icebox massacre". This ‘icebox’ is named after the old papal ‘refrigerator’ which was used for storing bodies, and was located at the base of one of the towers of the palace.
 
For a long time the Palace was used as a barracks and finally was listed as a historic building on the first list of historical monuments in 1840; however by this time much of the splendour was gone.
 
The twentieth century saw a number of excavations, some restoration, some consolidation and even some partial construction. In addition to the creation of the Avignon Festival, during which the majestic Courtyard welcomes many famous artists who come to see if they can measure up to the greatness of its stone walls, there are many cultural events, and many parts of the palace are open to the public as a museum (visit the great Tinel, the papal apartments, the Great chapel, etc.) or as a convention centre (the assembly room).
 
The palace has certainly lost its former splendour, but it remains resplendent and majestic, impressive and reassuring, and every year amazes the millions of visitors who spend a day in the Eternal City.
 
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