La Cour d'Honneur
(The Honnor Courtyard)

The Popes’ Palace is primarily the result of two palaces being joined together : the Old Palace, built on the East and North sides by Benedict XII, and the New Palace, built by his successor Clement VI, on the South and West sides.

When Benedict XII died in 1342, Clement VI commenced the expansion of his predecessor’s residence and acquired the buildings to the South of the Old Palace for demolition. The new buildings would form a square : the Cour d’Honneur or Courtyard of Honour.

The "Old Palace" - Benoît XII and Pierre Poisson

Benedict XII bought the Bishop’s palace transformed by John XXII and began work in 1335. A native of Mirepoix, Pierre Poisson first received the honorific title of squire before being chosen as papal architect and master of works and edifices. Work began with the construction of the Pope’s tower, a 46-metres high fortified tower with thick walls designed to house the treasury at its base and the new papal apartments. He enlarged St. Stephen’s church, which became the papal chapel (renamed chapel of Benedict XII). The Conclave wing, the private apartments wing (today destroyed), the Study tower, the Consistory and the Great Tinel, the Chapels tower, the Latrines tower, the kitchens and the garden rampart were all built in 1337.

In 1340, the Familiars’ wing, now the Campane tower, the cloister galleries and the outdoor staircase leading to the Papal Chapel were all built above the location of the apartments of John XXII. In the Audience square, a crenelated rampart was built to reinforce the «Porte Majeure» (Main Gate). Within seven years, Pierre Poisson’s successive projects had covered almost a hectare and employed many workers. In May 1337, there were 800 workers on the palace site.
The construction of the imposing Trouillas tower, designed to ensure the defense of the north-east of the palace went on from 1341 to 1346. Benedict XII did not live to see his achievement. He died in April 1342, his project nearly completed after seven years of rule : a majestic palace with the external appearance of a fortress, with huge rooms to which wood ceilings and frames bestowed a special character.

The "New Palace" - Clément VI and Jean de Louvres

The son of a noble family, Clement VI was a munificent prince. Elected on 7 May 1342, he decided that summer to build a new palace. The construction was entrusted to Jean de Louvres, master mason, from Parisis. Little is known of the man except that he was appointed master of papal works and sergeant at arms and that he remained in the service of Clement VI until his death in 1357.

In the summer of 1342, construction started on the Wardrobe tower against the south wall and the Kitchens tower was built between the garden rampart and the Latrine tower. After the first section was completed in 1343, the pope decided to finish the Trouillas tower. In 1344, stones were cut to lay the foundations of the Grand Audience hall (May 1345). The Great Chapel project began at the end of 1346, ending only in 1351, slowed down by the epidemic of plague in 1348. Construction continued through 1351 : the Great Promenade, the Peyrolerie gate, the La Gache gate and the Grand Dignitaries Wing (completed in 1347). On the city side, the Champeaux Gate, cut in the new façade, marke the main entrance. The west wing attached to Benedict XII’s palace delimited the new enclosed area of the Courtyard of Honour. Work on the south wing had been completed for one year when Clement VI died on 6 December, 1352.

With Clement VI, gothic elegance entered the palace. Intersecting ribs abound : sculptures, «rib bases», mouldings decorate the stone. The walls are covered with magnificent fresoes while the furnishings are enriched with sumptuous hangings.

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