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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Viviers' livery, also known as Gaillard de la Motte or Collège de Croix, is a monument in the city of Avignon. Its origins date back to the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, with major transformations in the eighteenth century. This building, typical of the cardinal or university liveries of Avignon, reflects the architectural and social evolutions of the city of popes throughout the eras.

The monument consists of two distinct parts: a 14th and 15th century building, classified as a Historical Monument by order of 31 December 1985, and a perpendicular extension of the 18th century, registered since 30 September 1975. These protections underline its heritage importance, especially for its facades and roofs. Owned by the commune of Avignon, the site is located at 5 rue du Collège-de-la-Croix, in the department of Vaucluse.

The Avignonnais, like Viviers's, initially served as residences for students, clerics or cardinal servants during the papal period. Their presence attests to the major intellectual and religious role of Avignon, especially during the Great Schism of the West (14th-15th centuries). In the 18th century, renovations adapted these spaces to new uses, integrating classical elements into a medieval fabric.

The location of the monument, although documented (address and GPS coordinates), is considered to be "passable" (note 5/10), which may reflect uncertainties about its exact right-of-way or subsequent urban changes. Today, its status as communal property suggests cultural, educational or tourist vocations, although the sources do not specify its current accessibility.

The historical context of Avignon in the 14th and 15th centuries is marked by the influence of the papacy, attracting scholars, artists and artisans. The liveries were part of a network of colleges and residences linked to the University, founded in 1303. In the 18th century, the city, then integrated into the Papal States, underwent an architectural renewal, mixing medieval heritage and Baroque or neoclassical influences.

The absence of detailed sources on the specific sponsors or occupants of this livery limits the knowledge of its social history. However, its classification among the Historical Monuments and its double protection (registration and classification) attest to its heritage value, both for its architecture and its anchor in the history of Avignon.

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