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The Palais des Papes in Avignon, France is one of the largest and most important Medieval Gothic buildings in Europe. It is one of many places called the Palace of the Popes..
Avignon became the residence of the Popes in 1309, fleeing the violent chaos of RomeThe Palais was built between 1335 and 1364 on a natural rocky outcrop at the northern edge of Avignon, overlooking the river Rohne. The site was formerly occupied by the old episcopal palace of the bishops of Avignon. The Palais was built in two principal phases with two distinct segments, known as the Palais Vieux (Old Palace) and Palais Neuf (New Palace). By the time of its completion, it occupied an area of 2.6 acres (11,000 m²). The building was enormously expensive, consuming mThe popes departed Avignon in 1377. returning to Rome, but this prompted the Papal Schism during which time the antipopes Clement VII and Benedict XIII made Avignon their home until 1408. The latter was imprisoned in the Palais for ten years after being besieged within in 1398. The building remained in the hands of antipapal forces for some years – it was besieged from 1410 to1411 – but was returned to the authority of papal legates in1433.