Palais des Papes

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We went to the Palais des Papes when our boat ported in Marseilles for the day.  We had original planned on biking through Provence using Aix en Provence, but given it was Sunday, we were unable to find bikes to rent!  We ended up changing course and deciding to go to the Papal Palace in Avignon.  It is one of the top 10 tourist sites in France.  

 We bought tickets to the Palais in advance.  We booked the ticket for both the palace and the bridge.  Interestingly enough the ticket gets booked through a central site for all of Avignon, which I'll admit I found a little confusing.  

 We took the train in and when you walk out of the train station, the palace is about 15 minute walk straight out of the main train station.  

With the prepaid tickets, we walked right up and were admitted into the museum.  We also took the virtual media guides.  They are basically iPads with audio.  They sense where they are in the palais.  It provides the route and audio depending on where you are.  The rooms also had these dais that prompted audio too.

It also has games built in!

I am spending time on the audio guide because without this, the museum isn't  much too look at.  A number of the relics have been since removed to Rome (or elsewhere).  The iPad gives a view into what the palace looked like before renovations, fully furnished and at its finest.  

 Some beautiful paintings still exist in the chapel, but most other furnishings are gone.  



We spent a lot of time in the palais.  I really liked seeing the treasury.  This room once held fortunes in coin, sacred items, gems.  

 The views from the top were also really beautiful.  


A beautiful visit!  

 Time in museum: 3 hrs
Times visited: 1
Overall: A-
Location: Place du Palais, 84000 Avignon, France

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