NOTRE-DAME DES DOMS

North of the palace, the present cathedral is a magnificent example of Roman influence on the Romanesque Provençl style. It wa built in the 12th century on the siteof a paleo-Christian basilica and an earlier edifice, consecrated in 1069.

Modified many times over the centuries, the bishop’s church was less imposing originally than it is today. The Roman influence is seen everywhere.

L'HÔTEL DES MONNAIES (The Mint)

Its richly ornamented façade contrasts with the austerity of the Papal Palace. The legate Cafarelli-Borghese reigned over the palace when vice-legate Jean-François de Bagni decided to build it in 1619. The Mint takes its name from the coin minting workshop that is must have housed.

Two winged gerfalcons, flanked by two eagles, watch over the Palace Square from the top of the balustrade. Just above, two angels frame a coat of arms while lions hold a profusion of sculpted fruits and vegetables in relief in their jaws. The eagle and gerfalcon are the emblem of the Borghese, the family of the Pope reigning at the time, Paul V, and his legate nephew.
The identity of the architect of this exuberant building is unknown, for the archives were destroyed during the Revolution.
Following the departure of the legation, the mint became a barracks until 1840 when the city administration moved in. Since 1860 (and until 2007), it has housed the City Conservatory of Music.

LE PETIT PALAIS (The small Palace)

With its crenelated façade and its double row of Renaissance windows, the present museum of the Small Palace elegantly closes off the north end of the Palace Square.
Built around a cloister in 1317 by Beranger Fredol, Arnaud de Via, nephew of John XXII bought it to make it his livey. Pope Benedict XII, who had had to destroy the old bishop’s palace to build the new one, acquired Arnaud de Via’s residence to house the bishop. Heavily damaged by the succession of conflicts and sieges aimed at the Papal Palace, the edifice was restored in he 15th century by Bishop Alain de Coetivy and by his successor Cardinal Giulio Della Rovere, the future pope Julius II, who transformed and beautified it to recieve important guests. The gunpowder explosion at the rock of Doms in 1650 shook the foundations of the palace and its defensive tower collpsed in 1767.
Today it is an internationally renowned museum, featuring an exceptional collection of Italian paintings from the 13th to 16t centuries and some works of the Avignon school.