Musée du Petit Palais
The Musée du Petit Palais is a UNESCO World Heritage site at the top of Place du Palais, housing one of the most important collections of medieval and early Renaissance painting in Europe. Admission to the permanent collections is free. Its Italian primitives - including a Botticelli Madonna - and Avignon School masterpieces make it an unmissable stop alongside the Palais des Papes.
A cardinal's palace filled with Italian masterpieces
Built in 1317 as the residence of Cardinal Arnaud de Via, the Petit Palais later became the official Archbishop's Palace. Its elegant Renaissance facades were added at the end of the 15th century by Archbishop Julien de la Rovère - who would later become Pope Julius II. Today the building is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside the Palais des Papes and the Pont d'Avignon.
What you will see
The museum holds over 390 paintings and 600 sculptures. The crown jewel is Sandro Botticelli's exquisite Madonna and Child, but the broader collection of Italian primitives is equally remarkable - spanning the 13th to early 16th centuries and tracing the extraordinary transition from Byzantine art to the Florentine Renaissance. Works by Vittore Carpaccio and other masters from the Campana Collection (deposited by the Louvre) sit alongside the distinctive paintings of the Avignon School, one of 15th-century France's most innovative artistic movements. The ground floor houses an impressive collection of Romanesque and Gothic funerary sculpture, including the imposing tomb of Cardinal Jean de Lagrange.
Why it is special
The Petit Palais is one of the premier museums for medieval art in all of Europe, and it is completely free. It is also one of Avignon's best-kept secrets - despite its extraordinary collection, it is almost never crowded. Most visitors walk straight past it on their way to the Rocher des Doms without realising what they are missing.
Practical information
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM in summer (April to October). In winter, Tuesday to Friday from 11 AM to 6 PM, weekends from 10 AM. Closed on Mondays, January 1st, May 1st, and December 25th. Admission to the permanent collections is free.
Who is it for?
Anyone with even a passing interest in art history, families looking for a free and enriching rainy-day activity, and visitors who want to understand why Avignon was once one of the most powerful cities in Europe. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours.
Pair it with
Step outside and you are at the Jardin Éphémère on the forecourt. From there, climb the steps to the Rocher des Doms for panoramic views, or walk down to the Palais des Papes - the three together make a perfect morning.