Former Episcopal Palace

Behind these walls lies more than fifteen centuries of religious history. You’re standing in front of the former Episcopal Palace of Rodez. The diocese was founded in the 5th century by Saint Amans, its first bishop, on the site of the old Gallo-Roman city of the Ruteni. Three different palaces rose here over time: the first, built against the city wall, was torn down to make room for the cathedral; the second, erected in the 15th century, was destroyed during the Wars of Religion; and the third, the one you see today, was built in 1694 by Bishop de Lusignan.

With its sweeping horseshoe staircase, grand reception halls, and elegant French-style gardens, it reflects all the splendor of episcopal life under the Ancien Régime. Some of Rodez’s great bishops left their mark here, like François d’Estaing, who completed the cathedral, and Georges d’Armagnac, a Renaissance humanist. Today, listed as a Historic Monument, the former bishop’s palace stands alongside the Cathedral of Notre-Dame to form one of the most remarkable ensembles of Rodez’s heritage—a vivid reminder of the spiritual and cultural power that shaped the Rouergue across the centuries.