Avignon and the Papal Palace
Avignon has preserved almost its medieval appearance, including its ring of walls, narrow streets, and the impressive Papal Palace, to which it owes much of its worldwide fame: it was here that the Avignon—or, as Petrarch called it, the "Babylonian"—captivity of the popes took place, lasting nearly 70 years (1309-1377).
They weren't kept locked up; the French kings found it easier to manipulate the pontiffs by having them close at hand, but the pontiffs themselves were reluctant to return to a turbulent, strife-torn Rome. Especially since all seven Avignon popes were French...
If you enjoy traveling with me, you can support the channel here: https://boosty.to/dezotclub. Thank you very much. And if you want to join me on a tour or excursion, you can always find announcements here: https://vk.com/dezotclub. Or on the Telegram channel: https://t.me/s/dezotclub.