Thin films of vanadium oxides grown on a Pd(111) single crystal surface have been studied using high resolution x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), near edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS), low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The vanadium oxides have been prepared by reactive evaporation of vanadium in p(o2) = 2 x 10(-7) mbar at 250 degrees C from submonolayer to 5 monolayer (ML) coverages. As observed on other substrates, the stoichiometry of the oxide phase varies as a function of the coverage, VO/VO2-like at low coverages to V2O3 for thicker oxide layers as indicated by XPS V 2p core level spectra and the characteristic NEXAFS fingerprints at both V 2p and O 1s edges. The V2O3 oxide phase grows epitaxially on the Pd(111) surface in the form of small three-dimensional (3D) islands as revealed by LEED and STM. The thermal stability of the brides is also coverage dependent: the decomposition onset temperatures range from 300 degrees C for submonolayer coverage to greater than or equal to 500 degrees C for 5 ML. The V 2p XPS data indicate that the 1 ML V2O3 Like oxide disproportionates into higher (4+) and lower (2+) oxidation state phases on heating to 300 degrees C. This surface shows a complex LEED pattern, due to the coexistence of ordered 3D V oxide islands and bare Pd patches as revealed by STM. On heating to 350 degrees C a simple p(2X2) LEED structure evolves, originating from a well ordered two-dimensional overlayer, which entirely wets the Pd(111) surface. At higher temperatures (400-500 degrees C), the vanadium oxide reduces to metallic vanadium and V/Pd alloy phases, as demonstrated by XPS.