Avignon Cathedral, Roman Catholic cathedral near Palais des Papes, Avignon, France

Avignon Cathedral is a Provençal Romanesque church built on the Rocher des Doms, next to the Palais des Papes. Its massive square bell tower rises above a lower facade and is crowned by an octagonal lantern; a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary was placed atop it in 1859. The tower's upper section has two tall round-arched windows on each face, and a stone platform with a balustrade holds a large cross and statues before the facade.

A cathedral group existed here by the 10th century. The present Romanesque church was built mainly in the second half of the 12th century; its bell tower collapsed in 1405 and was rebuilt in 1425. The apse was rebuilt and extended in 1670–1672, destroying the medieval cloister. After Revolutionary damage, it was reconsecrated in 1822 and restored by Archbishop Célestin Dupont in 1835–1842.

The cathedral is dedicated to Notre-Dame des Doms, and local tradition links its first bishop, Saint Ruf, to Simon of Cyrene; his relics were kept here in a silver shrine until they were scattered during the Revolution. The south side chapel, built in 1316 for the tomb of John XXII, is reached through a passage to the sacristy. In 1336 Cardinal Giacomo Stefaneschi commissioned Simone Martini to paint the porch frescoes, finished before the patron's death in 1343.

The cathedral opens daily for worship services and religious observances. Visitors should be aware that active prayer times may limit access, so checking conditions in advance is wise.

The cathedral and the adjacent papal palace together form a UNESCO World Heritage site that defines the city's skyline from above. This pairing shows how closely the two structures are architecturally and historically intertwined.