Eglise du Couvent des Celestins (Church of the Convent of the Celestins), Avignon

The Church of the Convent of the Celestins in Avignon, located on the Holy Bodies Square (Place des Corps Saints), stands as a historical testament to the city’s rich monastic heritage. Initiated in 1389 by Antipope Clement VII, with the first stone laid by Charles VII, this church marks the final foundation of the Avignon papacy and is unique as the only royal foundation in the pontifical city. Built near the tomb of Pierre de Luxembourg, it replaced a wooden chapel, with construction spanning from 1395 to 1452. The mid-15th century saw the addition of the cloister and the monastery, cementing the convent’s prominence.

Originally belonging to the Celestine Order, founded in 1264 by Pierre de Moron—later known as Pope Celestine V—the convent followed a practice akin to the Rule of Saint Benedict with subtle differences. The church gained further significance when the altar of the Chapel of Saint Peter of Luxembourg was rebuilt in Baroque style in 1625 by Francis Royers of Valfenière, and in 1693, the relics of Saint Benezet were transferred there.

During the French Revolution, the Celestine Church played a pivotal role as a storage site for Avignon’s richest works of art. Despite its disuse today, the structure remains largely intact, preserving its church, cloister, and substantial parts of the regular buildings, making it the least degraded monastic establishment in Avignon. It was designated a historic monument on June 8, 1914.

The church’s surroundings were named Holy Bodies Square (Place des Corps Saints) in 1843, reflecting the numerous relics and remains of notable figures that have been housed there over the centuries. As one of the city’s richest convents, the Celestins Convent continues to embody the spiritual and cultural legacy of medieval Avignon.