Palais des Évêques

The Palais des Évêques sits on the Saint-Michel rock and combines Gothic windows with grand ceremonial halls and architectural details from different periods. The building includes a working medieval kitchen and shows the variety of styles that were added over several centuries.

The building was acquired in 1218 during the Albigensian conflicts and became the main residence of the Bishops of Viviers in the 14th century. This strategic takeover marked the start of its long use as a center of episcopal power in the region.

The Banquet Hall, built around 1450, still shows its working kitchen from that time, where it once hosted the States of Vivarais and brought regional leaders together. The room remains a gathering space today, preserving the memory of how it served as a seat of political power in the region.

The building is maintained by the Palais des Évêques association and offers guided tours and cultural events to explore the site. Visitors should expect stairs and changing levels since the palace sits on a rocky outcrop.

Cardinal Mazarin stayed in one of the newly decorated chambers in 1642, while d'Artagnan and his musketeers visited in 1670. These visits suggest the palace was important enough to host high-ranking guests traveling from Paris.