Photos: Chatsam, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Henk Monster, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 Txllxt TxllxT, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo credits
Photos: Chatsam, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Henk Monster, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 Txllxt TxllxT, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Palais des Papes courtyard, festival stage
Your local guide
Nicolas Reynaud
View profile
Highlights
- The largest Gothic palace still standing
- Defensive features built for a papal fortress
- The courtyard's July festival transformation
- A medieval building's theatrical second life
- Ninety minutes at the heart of Avignon
About this tour
This longer session covers the Palais des Papes from the square outside, tracing both its scale as the largest Gothic palace still standing and its second life as a festival stage every July. You see the courtyard entrance where theatre performances take place and the quiet square outside festival season. Nicolas, who trained as a festival theatre technician, explains how the two very different roles sit on the same building.
The call opens with a sound check at the square, then moves at a warm, conversational pace around the palace exterior. Nicolas treats the session like a chat rather than a lecture, given the scale of what there is to cover. A short list of what was shown follows by message afterwards.
This suits anyone interested in either medieval history or theatre festival culture. It also works well as an introduction before a future festival visit.
Included
- Live video walk with a local guide
- Questions to your guide all the way
- A short list of places to visit later
Not included
- Internet connection
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
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Welcome and sound check 7 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of Avignon before heading out.
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Palais des Papes exterior 21 min
The camera takes in the sheer scale of the palace walls from the square below, the largest Gothic palace anywhere still standing. I point out the defensive features added when the popes needed the building to double as a fortress.
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Cour d'honneur, from outside 21 min
You see the main courtyard's entrance, transformed every July into the stage for Avignon's theatre festival. I explain how a medieval courtyard ended up becoming one of European theatre's most famous stages.
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Palace square in quiet season 21 min
The camera takes in the square outside festival season, quiet compared to the crowds of July. I point out details on the façade that are easy to miss once the festival scaffolding goes up each summer.
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Your questions 14 min
Time to ask anything about Avignon: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
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A short list to keep 6 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Papeton d'aubergines and Rue des Teinturiers quarter, worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in Paris time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 8 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through Avignon, showing you Palais des Papes exterior and Cour d'honneur, from outside live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
Do I need to know the history already?
No background needed. The guide explains everything as it comes up.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We meet on Google Meet; the link comes with your booking. I walk Avignon live with my phone.
Times shown in Paris time (CET)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
Reviews
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Verified booking
Highlight of our trip
Warm, funny and well prepared. Would book again without thinking.
How reviews work
Only travellers who booked and paid through Locals Guide and whose tour took place can leave a review, within 60 days of the tour. Every review is marked "Verified booking". We check reviews before they appear and publish positive and negative ones alike; we remove only reviews that break our rules (insults, personal data, unrelated content). Guides cannot pay for, edit or hide reviews, and ratings are the plain average of all published reviews.
Next: Wed 28 Oct · 8 seats left From 33,00 €
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