Former Archbishops’ Palace – Exceptional collection of Italian (Campana collection) and Provençal paintings from the late 13th-early 16th centuries.
The museum is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The museum is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Petit Palais Museum is one of Europe's great medieval art museums. It is a designated French Museum and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Formerly the residence of Cardinal Arnaud de Via (died in 1335), nephew of Pope John XXII, then the palace of the Archbishop of Avignon, the building was rebuilt at the end of the 15th century by Archbishop Julien de la Rovère, the future Pope Julius II.
Its crenellated facade is pierced with mullioned windows.
The museum houses a unique collection of paintings from the Middle Ages and the Italian Renaissance (more than three hundred Italian primitives), bringing together the Campana collection, a significant collection from the Calvet Museum (Avignon School from the 13th to the 16th century) and medieval sculptures from the 12th to the 16th century from Avignon and the surrounding area.
This collection is essential for understanding artistic creation in Italy during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It provides a panorama of Italian painting through both great names (Botticelli, Carpaccio) and numerous masters and workshops (on loan from the Louvre Museum) as well as a collection of medieval Provençal sculptures and paintings and Italian paintings (on loan from the Calvet Foundation).
The reading corner:
Located in a room of the museum, the reading corner allows children and adults alike to discover works related to the temporary exhibitions and the Italian collections of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Take your time, sit down, and enjoy—books are coming to the museum!
The smart bag:
Available free of charge at the museum reception, the "smart bag" invites you to discover the collections in a different way. The program includes activities to do according to your wishes, such as "Search and find," "The art of words," "Budding artist," and "Puzzle madness," as well as cards entitled "History of the work" that share anecdotes about the paintings. Are you ready to explore the museum's collections? We're waiting for you! Don't hesitate to ask for it; it's available at the reception.
Self-guided tour of approximately 1 hours.
EVENTS
* Guided tour – every last Sunday of the month at 10:30 a.m. – except public holidays.
Prices: 5 € / 3 €
IH: Museum not wheelchair accessible and difficult to access for people with reduced mobility due to a large number of steps.
Formerly the residence of Cardinal Arnaud de Via (died in 1335), nephew of Pope John XXII, then the palace of the Archbishop of Avignon, the building was rebuilt at the end of the 15th century by Archbishop Julien de la Rovère, the future Pope Julius II.
Its crenellated facade is pierced with mullioned windows.
The museum houses a unique collection of paintings from the Middle Ages and the Italian Renaissance (more than three hundred Italian primitives), bringing together the Campana collection, a significant collection from the Calvet Museum (Avignon School from the 13th to the 16th century) and medieval sculptures from the 12th to the 16th century from Avignon and the surrounding area.
This collection is essential for understanding artistic creation in Italy during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It provides a panorama of Italian painting through both great names (Botticelli, Carpaccio) and numerous masters and workshops (on loan from the Louvre Museum) as well as a collection of medieval Provençal sculptures and paintings and Italian paintings (on loan from the Calvet Foundation).
The reading corner:
Located in a room of the museum, the reading corner allows children and adults alike to discover works related to the temporary exhibitions and the Italian collections of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Take your time, sit down, and enjoy—books are coming to the museum!
The smart bag:
Available free of charge at the museum reception, the "smart bag" invites you to discover the collections in a different way. The program includes activities to do according to your wishes, such as "Search and find," "The art of words," "Budding artist," and "Puzzle madness," as well as cards entitled "History of the work" that share anecdotes about the paintings. Are you ready to explore the museum's collections? We're waiting for you! Don't hesitate to ask for it; it's available at the reception.
Self-guided tour of approximately 1 hours.
EVENTS
* Guided tour – every last Sunday of the month at 10:30 a.m. – except public holidays.
Prices: 5 € / 3 €
IH: Museum not wheelchair accessible and difficult to access for people with reduced mobility due to a large number of steps.
Themes:
Location details
- In the city
- Pedestrian zone
Visit
Language(s) of the visit
French
Individual visit services
- Unguided individual tours permanently
- Guided individual tours on request
Group visit services
- Unguided group visits on request
- Guided group tours on request
Opening
| Opening hours from November 01 to December 31, 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Monday | Open |
| Wednesday | Open |
| Thursday | Open |
| Friday | Open |
| Open on Saturday | Open |
| Sunday | Open |
10h-13h / 14h-17h
Closed December 25.
Exceptional Closure(s)
- 01/01/2025
- 01/05/2025
- 25/12/2025
Pricing
Free self-guided tours of the permanent collections.
Payment methods
Services
Services
Activities on site
- Temporary exhibitions
- Animation
Home animals
Accessible tourism
Physical disability
Partially accessible museum.
Linked offers
On the spot…
03 October 2025 04 January 2026
Curieuses Collections ! Curiosités d’ici et d’ailleurs, sorties de leurs réserves !
Free
26 July 27 December 2025
Visite guidée de l’exposition OTHONIEL COSMOS ou les Fantômes de l’Amour – Autour du Palais
Book online
Historic site and monument