A landmark from across the lavender fields of Provence, the imposingPope’s Palacestands at the north end of the walled city. Towering above the mighty Rhône, the fourth longest river in France, Avignon was the home of the papacy from 1309 to 1377. Seven French popes ruled the Catholic world at a time when Italy was too dangerous. Between 1334 and 1352, they built this wonderful, extraordinary, and rich structure. The largest Gothic palace in the world, it served both as a fortress and a palace, made up of two buildings: thePalais Vieux(Old Palace) to the north and thePalace Neuf(New Palace) to the south.