Musée du Petit Palais

The Musée du Petit Palais occupies the former palace of the archbishops of Avignon, a Gothic building at the northern end of the Place du Palais, opposite the Palais des Papes. Built in the 14th century for a cardinal and later used as the archbishops' residence, it was converted into a museum in 1976 and is classified as a historic monument.

The museum is devoted to medieval and early Renaissance art. Its collection of Italian paintings from the 13th to the early 16th century is one of the most important in France, much of it coming from the Campana collection assembled in the 19th century. Among the highlights is a Virgin and Child by Botticelli, along with works by Carpaccio and many painters of the Sienese, Florentine and Venetian schools, often on gold backgrounds. The museum also presents paintings of the Avignon school, which flourished in the city in the 15th century, and Romanesque and Gothic sculpture from Avignon's churches and monuments, including fragments of papal and cardinals' tombs.

The Petit Palais is quieter than the papal palace and can be combined with it easily, as the two face each other across the square. Allow an hour or two to see the collections, and step into the garden courtyard. Check the museum's website for current opening hours and prices before visiting.