Palais du Roure , Avignon , Architecture, Monuments, Museum, Palaces Provence Attractions

One of the most interesting attractions of Avignon is Palais du Roure (which was built in the XV century). He has two more titles: Museum Baroncelli (Musée Baroncelli) and Baroncelli-Javon Hotel (l’Hôtel de Baroncelli-Javon).

This palace was built by the Italian Florentine (Ghibelline), Pierre Baroncelli. Having arrived in Avignon, in 1469 he bought the tavern with 2 adjacent buildings intending to build a luxury residence in this place. As a result, the Baroncelli-Javon Hotel appeared.

In the XIX century, Frédéric Mistral who often dropped in Avignon and stayed at the Hotel decided to rename the building, calling it the «Oak palace» (Palais du Roure). Then the palace belonged to the Marquis Folco de Baroncelli-Javon and there the meetings of the few representatives of Félibrige movement (so called movement of the supporters of the Provencal language and literature revival) took place.

But in 1908 the Marquis-owner decided to sell the palace. In the next decade, without the proper maintenance his building was significantly destroyed. In 1918, Jeanne de Flandreysy has actively started the restoration of the palace having decided to «transform» it into a museum of Mediterranean culture. Her plan was successful realised and the palace-museum which in 1944 has become the patrimony of the city of Avignon is now opened to the public.

The collections presented in this museum are quite interesting. So, already in the yard, we can see some unique exhibits of the old bells of different production time and size hanging on the walls (they all were collected Jeanne de Flandreysy).

Here in the museum of Provencal and Italian art it is possible to admire the illustrations to the Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, the engravings of prints Giovanni Battista Piranesi, see the letters of Théodore Aubanel, the coach belonging to Frédéric Mistral and other interesting exhibits.