Place du Palais, Square in the old town of Avignon, France

Place du Palais is the square in Avignon that faces the Papal Palace, with the Notre-Dame-des-Doms Cathedral at its southern end. The square is paved and bordered by the Petit Palais and the Hôtel des Monnaies, a 1619 papal mint. The golden Virgin Mary statue crowns the cathedral's Romanesque tower.

In the early 1400s, Pope Benedict XIII ordered the demolition of surrounding houses to create defensive space during a period of conflict. This transformation established the square as a strategic location within the papal city.

The square takes its name from the papal palace it faces, and its Provençal name, Plaça dau Palais, is still used locally. The golden Virgin that crowns the cathedral's Romanesque bell tower was placed in 1859. Each year the square hosts the opening events of the Festival d'Avignon, and its broad steps serve as seating for spectators.

The square is fully pedestrian and links the Rue de la République approach to the Papal Palace esplanade. The underground car park beneath the square is reached from the Boulevard du Palais side. The surface is level and paved, with no steps between the square and the palace forecourt.

The Hôtel des Monnaies, built in 1619 next to the square, once served as a papal mint that produced coins for the Church State. After centuries in this role, it eventually housed a music conservatory before its transformation.