tidy

I have read mixed reviews about a visit to Palace of the Popes so though I'd throw out a request for feedback from those of you have visited. we take the train to Avignon and could have the afternoon there and at the Jardin du Rocher Des Dom. how long will the visit take at the palace and do we need a reservation?

Pepper_von_snoot

Visited in 1999.

Was not that impressed with the monastic interior. There is not a lot to look at.

Some very beautiful tapestries on display.

The history of the Schism, which is told via the audio guide, is the most interesting aspect of the tour.

Thin

gertie3751

I visited in 2002. Went by train as a day trip from Nimes. walked from the station to the Palace. No reservation. Spent 2/3 hours there, really enjoyed it though my companion who is not into history wasn't so thrilled. Afterwards we went down to the Sur le Pont and mooched around the town. Plenty of places to sit and eat and drink. Got the train back in the evening.

PalenQ

Avignon has many neat sights, including the famous Avignon Bridge - now standing half-way into the river that made the kid's son Sur le pont d'Avignon famous and just the city initself - the Palace of the Popes, oft described as one of Europe's wonders and most imposing edifices should not IMO be the raison d'etre by itself for going to Avignon - the city itelf is so so old-world romantic in its city centre.

bilboburgler

there used to be a ticket to see the palace and the bridge for one price, it was the best deal around. Neither is Tower of London fantastic, but worth a trip round. The gift shop at the Palace does a wine tasting for tourists, don't do it as past of the tour but do do as single/couple tourists (when the place is quiet) and the wine was better than expected.

tidy

Bertie, confirmation about the time you spent there. I take 2/3 hour to mean less than an hour and not 2 to 3 hours. Am I correct?

gertie3751

No. It means between 2 and 3 hours. Nearer 3. I go slowly in historical places!

Gretchen

Not sure you could climb the steps in "2/3" hour!! Really?

Christina

I enjoyed it, but I"m very interested in history and architecture. I can't imagine just ignoring such an important site if you were there.

I have no idea about reservations, you'd have to check online. It's not going to take all afternoon just to see that and that park, which is nice. But you can wander around the rest of the town nearby, the main square is there, after all. There is a church there, also, and I thin the Petit Palais museum is fantastic. That's my favorite site in Avignon, but you can't really compare the Palais des Papes to it.

I don't recall how long I spent there, but I doubt it was over an hour (at the Palais). Certainly not over 1.5

EYWandBTV

We love architecture and history but even so, after about the 23rd empty palace room with many more to go, we ducked out a side door. During its tumultuous history the palace has been stripped practically of everything unfortunately, so you are visiting many empty halls and chambers. The town itself, as other posters have said, is a delight for wandering, so save some time for that if you enjoy that kind of thing.

dugi_otok

Palais des Papes is Avignon's most spectacular monument. The interior is worth an hour+ for it's historical significance. The audio guide is a must, because without it you will not visualize what you are seeing. Even if you are primarily interested in Peter Mayles Provence an afternoon in historical Avignon should be part of a week in Provence.

http://www.palais-des-papes.com/en/content/discover

Don't forget the bridge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIRWnNOtJBE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJKfxtYAt0s

flanneruk

Possibly the dullest and most unpleasant allegedly "major" site in Europe.

For a bit over a century, seven hundred years ago, it was Europe's religious and cultural centre. Since those hundred years coincided with the period European learning and arts as we know them today began to form, a lot of what happened in the Palace still matters today.

But next to none of it has left any distinguishing marks or relics. If you're interested in the history of architecture, fine - though it's architecture with next to no grace notes. Just about anything that could be smashed or wrenched off a wall either went back to Rome with Urban VI or was stolen or destroyed in the Revolution. I defer to Thin's views of the tapestries: against my better judgement I've been twice and remember no redeeming features at all, though that might be the effect of the trauma.

Otherwise it's a crowded, noisy, overwrought, interminable and exhausting place with little to recommend it.

In a country packed with important historical and artistic sites that really are worth seeing, unless you've got a real specialist interest it's hard to justify wasting time on something so devoid of any reason for visiting.

I'd add that in spring, it's merely boring. In midsummer, the crowds and heat can make it downright hellish. If "we" are a grown up couple: up to you. If "we" are children, it's outright cruelty to drag them round - and almost certain to alienate them for life from organised religion and the study of history.

HappyTrvlr

I found it interesting in an historical sense. It didn't take too long to visit.

Ackislander

Nonsense, Flanner!

There is a bedroom in the palace painted with vines, trees and birds, all highly naturalistic and beautifully done. In the museum next door are dozens of quattrocento paintings, stiff and unnatural, against gilded backgrounds, done at the same time.

The question, seen illustrated here better than any other place I have been, is why, if they could paint naturalistically, did they choose not to?

I have an answer to that, and I actually love early Italian painting, but the question thrusts itself forward in this place for me.

tidy

"We" are 2 adults in our 60's.

PalenQ

Takes on anything are so so subjective - and yes if you do not see the interior of the palace you can still have a wondrous time in Avignon, whose main sight IME is itself as a whole old-worldish-looking whole. Wander the back small whitewashed lanes - sit at an outdoor cafe and watch the human comedy of tourists from all over stroll by...