les luminessences d'Avignon
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Attend the Sound and Light Show at the Palais des Papes

In the Cour d’Honneur, made mythical by the shows staged there during the Avignon Festival in particular, 360-degree projected images transport you through time and take you back through the history of the monument from the Middle Ages to the present day.

Spatial sound, images sometimes reminiscent of medieval illuminations, poetic illustrations that are both moving and surprisingly realistic… You’ll quickly be swept away by the beauty of this magical sound and light show.

Episodes, sometimes joyous, sometimes tragic, flash across the high stone walls, giving an insight into the city’s history, its splendour and splendour, and its tragic periods too.

The director is Bruno Seillier, and it’s the actors-Francis Huster, Claude Giraud and Céline Duhamel-who lend their voices to the show.

The power of the texts combined with the music and images make this show a must-see at the end of the summer.

Palais des Papes, A little history...

The Palais des Papes was built in 1335. In less than twenty years, this 15,000 m2 building, equivalent in volume to 4 Gothic cathedrals, was erected, making it the largest Gothic palace in the West. It was the work of two builder popes, Benedict XII and his successor Clement VI.

Nine popes succeeded one another in Avignon in the 14th century. The first was Clement V, who moved to the Comtat Venaissin, a papal property. He asked the Count of Provence, who owned the city of Avignon, to take up residence in the city. Later, Clement VI bought the city from Queen Jeanne, Countess of Provence, thus making Avignon the capital of the Christian world.

The death of Pope Gregory XI in 1378 marked the return of the popes to Rome and the start of the Great Schism.

Visit the Popes' Palace...

We recommend arriving in the afternoon to explore the city and visit the 25 rooms of this exceptional monument. You will see the great ceremonial halls where ceremonies and feasts were held, the chapels with their painted decorations and the pope’s private flats, which have preserved sublime frescoes that bear witness to the innovative work of the French and Italian schools of painting. Some of the painted decorations are attributed to the great Italian painter Matteo Giovannetti.

Did you know?

The Palais des Papes welcomes 600,000 visitors a year. It is one of the 10 most visited monuments in France.

Along with the Pont d’Avignon, it is part of a group of monuments classified as World Heritage by UNESCO.

We invite you to contact our agency Plaisirs & Maisons de Provence by clicking here. We can design a tailor-made stay for you to discover one of Provence’s most beautiful towns and its history.

For accommodation, we offer a selection of holiday rentals in Avignon by clicking here.