Art Installation at the Palais des Papes
I was finally inside the main buildings of the Palais des Papes. It was surprisingly large. It was already large enough looking at it from the outside but it seems that there is more to it. The high walls of the palace make it appear like it is a fortress as well. Not surprising because France needed to protect the pope. It increased the prestige of France by having the pope stay in Avignon among other things. Besides, they would have more control over the pope if he was in Avignon. See there was trouble back in Rome over the succession of the popes and families were fighting over who would be pope. This caused Rome to be unsafe for the popes and thus they had to look for a different place to hold office.
Art on Display at one of the Rooms at the Palais des Papes
Eventually they ended up in Avignon which has the blessings of the French king. The king also has his own machination as he helped put his own people as cardinals and even the pope since the popes during the Avignon papacy were all French. Such was the prestige that was attached to the papal office that the king became involved in their affairs as well. The result of these successive popes was the Palais des Papes which also incorporated French design into the palace. Currently, the palace is a museum which visitors can experience the life of being an Avignon pope. Art is also scattered across the palace in various rooms. It seems to be a thing here. I don’t like the idea though.
[xmlgm {http://www.worldwanderings.net/kml/PalaisdesPapes.kmz} zoom=19]