Palais des Papes
In 1309, Pope Clement V, who was originally from Bordeaux, moved the Roman Catholic Papacy to Avignon. From 1309 until 1377, seven Popes reigned in Avignon before the Western Schism between the Roman and Avignon churches, which led to rival popes in each place. After that three Antipopes reigned in Avignon until 1423, when the Papacy finally returned to Rome. Between 1334 and 1363 Pope Benedict XII built the Papal Palace in Avignon, and Clement VI built the New Palace; together the Palais des Papes was the largest gothic palace in Europe.