Saint Martial's Chapel, Palace of Popes

Saint Martial's Chapel in the Palace of Popes is a medieval place of worship decorated with detailed wall paintings. The frescoes spiral from the ceiling down to the walls, forming connected picture stories.

In the 1340s, Pope Clement VI hired an Italian painter to decorate the chapel while the papacy was based in Avignon. This decoration took place during a period when popes made their residence in this French city instead of Rome.

The chapel displays scenes from Saint Martial's life that present him as an early spreader of faith in southern regions. These images helped people understand the story of this holy figure through visual narratives.

The chapel is located on the second floor of Saint John's tower and can be reached through the main dining hall. Visitors should be prepared to climb several sets of stairs to access this space.

The artist used a special painting technique where colors were applied directly to a single layer of plaster. This method created more intense and vivid color tones than the double-layer technique that was standard at the time.

Location: Avignon

Part of: Palais des Papes

Address: 2, place du Palais

GPS coordinates: 43.95083,4.80750

Latest update: December 9, 2025 12:22