Palais Des Papes, Avignon

French early-XIV-century medieval Gothic palace located in Avignon. The Palais des Papes, or Palace of the Popes, was a fortress and the papal residence of the Catholic church. Since 1947, the Palace's courtyard has served as the primary stage for Festival D'Avignon, one of Europe's oldest and most prestigious theatrical events. In 1995, Palais des Papes was designated by UNESCO as a protected World Heritage Site.