Pont Saint-Benezet

This historic bridge is the inspiration for the children's song "Sur le Pont d'Avignon" and was originally constructed over the Rhone between 1177 and 1185. According to traditional, a local shepherd boy was commanded by angels to build a bridge across the river between Avignon and Villeneuve-les-Avignon and he miraculously lifted a large block of stone as proof of his divine inspiration. This boy later became Saint Benezet and was interred in a chapel on the bridge after his death. For a long time, the bridge was the only fixed river crossing between Lyon in central France and the Mediterranean Sea.

Fort Saint-Andre

Photo by Stephen Bohn

Rising above the town of Villeneuve-les-Avignon, the well preserved fort of Saint-Andre was built in 1292 and offers beautiful views across the Rhone to Avignon, but with far fewer tourists than the papal city.

Across the Rhone

Photo by Stephen Bohn

Looking down over the Rhone river and the partial remains of the St. Benezet bridge (Pont d'Avignon) from atop the Rocher des Doms above the Palace of the Popes. The town across the river is Villeneuve-les-Avignon, which was once connected to Avignon by the bridge until its collapse in the mid-1600s.