Palais des Papes in Avignon

 
 We visited the Palais as early as we could to avoid the huge cues that form quickly.  The Dutch and Germans were there ahead of us, of course, but luckily there were not too many of them.

The huge shadow of the Palais shades the square outside and keeps it cool early in the day.

Adjoining the turrets of the Palais is the cathedral.

The cathedral can be seen through the slits for archers, fashioned in a stylized cross that characterizes the design of the Palais.

Inside the Palais windows with seats sculpted into the walls look out over the interior courtyard.  Nice and cool on a hot day it is an ideal place to contemplate when in a conclave picking the next pope.

The Popes stored their treasure behind walls many metres thick in the Armory, in which only the Pope and one trusted civil servant had access.










 














Even the chairs remind one of the Pope's headwear.