Palais des Papes Open Every Night in August

The magnificent Palais des Papes will once again be open at night this August, every night of the week.  The Avignon landmark, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,  is one of the most-visited monuments in all of France. Construction began in 1335 and was completed in less than 20 years under the leadership of Pope Benedict XII and his successor Clement VI. With 15,000 square meters (161,000 square feet), the Popes’ Palace is the biggest Gothic palace in all of Europe--the equivalent of four Gothic cathedrals.

To visit the Palace in the evening in August, there are two options. On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, you can take the sunset walk, a guided tour ending up with dinner in the cloister (48€ per person). On Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays there will be classical music concerts starting at 9 p.m. The concert program, subject to change, includes:

August 3, 5 and 7: Astoria Quartet (flute, guitar, cello, accordion, song).

August 10, 12 and 14: Giacomo Quintet (viola, violin, cellos, voice).

August 17, 19 and 21: Segovia Quartet (four guitars).

August 24, 26 and 28: In the Châtelet Courtyard at the Pont d’Avignon, the Grand Avignon Wind Quintet (flutes, clarinet, bassoon, horn).

For more info, click here and here.

You might also be interested to know that a popular two-hour guided English-language tour of the "Secret" Palais-des-Papes will be offered on Fridays at 3 p.m. in September and October. The small-group tour provides a fabulous opportunity to discover many parts of the Palace that are normally closed to the public such as the baths, papal wardrobe, private chapel, and staircases and corridors leading to gardens, terraces and private rooms. For all the info on this special tour, click here.