Culture & heritage · Palais des Papes — Rocher des Doms — Pont Saint-Bénézet — Rhône
Enter papal Avignon and walk to its broken bridge
Explore the immense Palais des Papes, climb through Rocher des Doms and finish on the surviving arches of Pont Saint-Bénézet above the Rhône.
The palace begins as a fortress of blank stone, then unfolds through ceremonial halls, chapels and traces of painted papal interiors. Step outside and climb the shaded Rocher des Doms for the relationship between walls, river and landscape. Descend to Saint-Bénézet, where the bridge's abrupt ending makes medieval Avignon's reach tangible.
Book a dated ticket or the combined palace, gardens and bridge admission, check seasonal hours and arrive well before last access. The palace includes stairs, uneven surfaces and exposed courtyards; allow more time than its distance suggests. During July's festival, reserve far ahead and expect the squares and streets to operate very differently.