History of our Avignon bed and breakfast
In the heart of Provence, in the historic centre, this Avignon guest house is a truly exceptional property, located on the site of the 14th-century Livrée of Cardinal Amédée de Saluces. He was the Popes’ right-hand man, their ambassador to all the kingdoms of Europe, and his entire “ministry” was housed and worked in the buildings annexed to the property.
At the time, the property extended as far as Place des Carmes.
Nowadays, the old walled windows of the cardinal’s palace can be seen above the kitchen. The palace was demolished in the 16th century and the surrounding wall of the current property was built using the stones from the palace.
In the 18th century, the north wing of the current house, which includes the kitchen, was built.
In the 19th century, an insurance company from Marseille bought the property and, to house its staff, had the present building constructed as an extension of the 18th-century wing.
In 1919, the property fell into the hands of a major refractory brick manufacturer from the Vaucluse region. He never lived there and rented out the building to various notables.
In the early 80s and for some thirty years, the building became the “CELA” Centre d’Etudes Linguistiques d’Avignon, which welcomed many famous artists and politicians during the Festival (Jeanne Moreau, Michael Lonsdale and many others gave readings there…).
France Culture will also be setting up camp in the garden in July to broadcast its programmes. The Association, which rented the property, is converting all the rooms into classrooms. At the end of 2009, the property was sold.
At the end of 2009, the property was sold to Amaury de Villoutreys & Gilles Jauffret, who converted it into an Avignon guest house. It took more than 7 years of restoration work to restore the property to its former glory.
In July 2022, Béatrice, a friend of Gilles and Amaury, fell in love with the place and bought it. A new life began for La Divine Comédie, with as much love, elegance, spirit, simplicity and conviviality as ever.
AN EXCEPTIONAL PLACE TO DISCOVER PROVENCE
Avignon is a city steeped in history, with the famous Pont d’Avignon and the majestic Palais des Papes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s also a city of museums, history, shopping, gastronomy and the capital of the Côtes du Rhône!
Avignon, in the heart of Provence, just 2 hours 40 minutes from Paris, offers city dwellers all the joys of Provence: the sun, the relaxed way of life, the gastronomy, the subtle aromas of the great appellation wines, etc…