Majestic Palais des Papes: A Testament to Gothic Grandeur in Avignon

Perched atop the Rocher des Doms overlooking the Rhône River, the Palais des Papes in Avignon, France, stands as the world’s largest Gothic palace and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995 . This architectural marvel, built between 1335 and 1364, served as the seat of the Catholic Church during the Avignon Papacy (1309–1377), a pivotal period when nine popes fled political turmoil in Rome to establish their authority in this southern French city .