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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Archepiscopal Palace of Arles, located in Place de la République, was originally built in the Middle Ages as an extension of the Church of St.Trophime. Few remains of this first structure remain, but the Gioffredi tower, erected in the 12th century, still bears witness to this today. This building was used as a seat for the Arlesian Catholic Church before being thoroughly redesigned in the 17th and 18th centuries, notably under the impulse of François de Grignan and Jean Marie du Lau.

During the French Revolution, the palace lost its religious function and became a civil building. It housed the municipal library from 1829 to 1988, and was converted into a university building. Its classification as a historical monument is staggered in two stages: the main body and its staircase were protected in 1922, while the ceiling of the ancient bathroom of the archbishops is in 1959. Today it belongs to the town of Arles.

Architecturally, the palace illustrates the successive transformations of medieval episcopal power into modern lay uses. Its protected elements, such as the archbishop's office or the grand staircase, reflect its past prestige. The Gioffredi Tower, now integrated into the neighbouring post office, recalls its gradual extension throughout the centuries.

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