Pont d'Avignon

Avignon, France

The Pont Saint-Bénézet, also known as the Pont d'Avignon, is a famous medieval bridge in the town of Avignon. It was built between 1177 and 1185. This early bridge was destroyed forty years later during the Albigensian Crusade when Louis VIII of France laid siege to Avignon. The bridge was rebuilt with 22 stone arches. It was very costly to maintain as the arches tended to collapse when the Rhône flooded. Eventually in the middle of the 17th century the bridge was abandoned.

The four surviving arches on the bank of the Rhône are believed to have been built in around 1345 by Pope Clement VI during the Avignon Papacy. The Chapel of Saint Nicholas sits on the second pier of the bridge. It was constructed in the second half of 12th century but has since been substantially altered. The western terminal, the Tour Philippe-le-Bel, is also preserved.

The bridge was the inspiration for the song Sur le pont d'Avignon and is considered a landmark of the city. In 1995, the surviving arches of the bridge, together with the Palais des Papes and Avignon Cathedral were classified as a World Heritage Site.

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Details

Founded: 1177-1185
Category: Miscellaneous historic sites in France
Historical period: Birth of Capetian dynasty (France)

Rating

4.2/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Caroline Findlay (6 months ago)
Historic and world famous monument. You could just admire the bridge from afar, but I think it’s definitely worth paying to go and explore properly. You’re given a little handheld device which gives you snippets of information along various points of the bridge. Thankfully the recordings only last for less than 2 minutes - which is plenty of time to give you some interesting facts without boring you to tears! It’s also worth visiting at sunset and when it gets dark - it’s a really beautiful monument at all times of the day and night.
Tomáš Bury (7 months ago)
A world-famous monument, a trip to Avignon would certainly not be complete without a visit to it. The bridge itself and the views from it are definitely worth a visit, it's an amazing place. We visited during the summer season on a weekday and it wasn't terribly crowded. The entrance fee is very reasonable.
Lam Dinh (7 months ago)
We stopped by this bridge as part of a combo ticket that also included the palace of popes and the garden of the palace of popes. The views were nice and they had video exhibits explaining the history of the bridge and how it has been destroyed over time. One of the more Roman inspired aspects of the city.
Vanna Lavery (9 months ago)
Cool to finally see the pont d’Avignon… but it wasn’t that impressive. It was a bit of a let down, to be honest, but it was still a pleasant visit with a beautiful view of the lake!
Linda Cheng (11 months ago)
Includere in the ticket. So must see too! Historical monument + love the music. They also offer little cellphone guide. Love the idea.
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