Ceccano Livery
The Ceccano Livery is a former 14th-century cardinal's palace that once served as a Jesuit middle school and now functions as Avignon's municipal library and media library, providing free public access to its historic architecture.
The Ceccano Livery is a massive 14th-century cardinal's palace located at 5 Rue Laboureur. Built during the Avignon Papacy, it later functioned as a Jesuit middle school and today serves as the city's municipal library and media centre.
This noble residence is historically significant as a physical symbol of the incredible wealth and power concentrated in Avignon during the papal era. It is one of the very few surviving examples of the grand aristocratic complexes, known as "livrées," that were built to house high-ranking members of the papal court outside the main Palace of the Popes.
When visiting the site today, you will see a commanding medieval stone structure that has retained much of its original grandeur. Inside, the architecture transitions from historic masonry to beautifully painted vaulted ceilings, offering a striking environment for the modern library housed within its walls.
Look closely at the ceilings when you enter the main reading rooms. You can still see the original 14th-century painted wooden beams, which have been preserved despite the building's many transformations over the centuries.