Avignon, a charming city situated on the left bank of the Rhône river, is steeped in a rich and intriguing history. But among the city’s many fascinating epochs, none stands more profoundly in the history, folklore, and imagination of its people than the era of the Avignon Papacy. For a period of roughly seven decades in the 14th century, Avignon, not Rome, was the center of the Roman Catholic Church.The tale begins with Pope Clement V, who, due to the chaotic political situation in Rome, decided to move the Papal court to Avignon. Here, seven successive popes reigned, initiating what is known today as the Avignon Papacy or, more dramatically, the Babylonian Captivity of the Church.Many legends have grown around this unusual era of Church history. One of these tales is of a mystical labyrinth constructed under the Palais des Papes, the monumental palace built by the Avignon Popes, which purportedly led to hidden chambers holding ancient relics and secret Papal documents. Some accounts even claim that a spectral Pope can sometimes be seen roaming the echoing halls of the palace or the maze-like streets of the old city, perhaps a ghostly residue of the Papal court’s turbulent past.Another popular legend speaks of an eerie, disembodied voice often heard singing Gregorian chants in the cathedral, especially on nights of the new moon, when the voice seems to grow louder and more mournful. The locals believe it to be the voice of an ancient monk who had been immured into the walls of the cathedral as punishment for an undisclosed sin, his soul forever bound to the place of his earthly penance.Despite no concrete evidence to support these legends, the stories continue to be told and retold, adding to the mysterious charm of Avignon. They serve as a bewitching reminder of the city’s past, allowing the history, myth, and folklore to blend, making Avignon’s history a rich and engaging tapestry of tales.