Coverage · France
Avignon
Avignon spent most of the 14th century as the seat of the Catholic Church, and the city never quite let go of that ambition: its skyline is still dominated by the largest Gothic palace ever built. Ringed by 4,600 metres of medieval walls and threaded by the waterwheel-lined canal of the Rue des Teinturiers, it is a compact city that rewards slow walking as much as grand sightseeing.
36+ researched places in the app
Places researched in this city
A selection of the 36 places we've researched in this city. The full set is in the Parroo app.
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Palace of the Popes
Six papal conclaves were held within these walls, and at its peak the palace hosted an entire parallel Vatican: court, treasury, and archives all under one Gothic roof. Built between 1335 and 1364, its 15,000 square metres make it the largest Gothic structure ever constructed.
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Saint Benezet Bridge (Bridge of Avignon)
Only four of the original 22 arches survive, because the bridge was simply abandoned in the 17th century rather than repaired after repeated flood damage. At 900 metres it was once the only fixed crossing of the Rhône between Lyon and the Mediterranean.
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Cathedral of Our Lady of the Doms
A 4.5-tonne gilded statue of the Virgin Mary crowns the bell tower, and inside lies the tomb of Pope John XXII. The cathedral dates to around 1150 and is the oldest monument on the Place du Palais des Papes.
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Ramparts of Avignon
Built between 1355 and 1370 under Pope Innocent VI, the 4,600-metre limestone circuit of walls with 39 towers was raised specifically to protect the city from roving mercenary companies. The original moat has long since been filled, but the walls stand almost entirely intact.
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Garden of the Doms (Rock of the Doms)
The rocky promontory beneath this public garden has been continuously occupied since the Neolithic period, and excavations have turned up early human remains and a small carved stele. Today the garden, redesigned in the 19th century, sits 30 metres above the Rhône and looks straight across to the broken arches of the Pont Saint-Bénézet.
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Street of the Dyers
Four working waterwheels still turn along the canal of the Sorgue here, remnants of a street that once powered 57 silk and velvet workshops in the 16th century alone. The cobblestone lane lined with plane trees is one of the few places in Avignon where the medieval industrial city is still physically legible.
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Chapel of the Grey Penitents
The Brotherhood of the Grey Penitents, founded here in 1226 after King Louis VIII led an expiatory procession following his siege of the city, is the oldest confraternity in France. The chapel commemorates a 1433 flood event when, according to local tradition, the waters of the Rhône divided before a procession.
Good to know
- How many places does Parroo cover in Avignon?
- 36 researched places, from the Palace of the Popes and the Pont Saint-Bénézet to lesser-known spots like the Chapel of the Grey Penitents. Each one has a short summary, a full article, and a ~3-minute audio story.
- Is there an audio guide?
- Yes. Every place has a ~3-minute audio story, written from the perspective of a guide standing next to you and produced with premium narration, not the article read aloud.
- Which languages is Avignon available in?
- German, English, and French. Pick whichever you'd rather read or listen in.
- Do I need to book anything or be online?
- No booking, no signup. It's a self-guided walk you start whenever you like. You do need a connection for now to stream the audio and load articles; offline support is something we're still building.
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Updated: 2026-05-29