The Pont Saint-Bénézet, known everywhere as the Pont d'Avignon, was a twelfth-century stone bridge across the Rhône that once ran more than nine hundred metres to Villeneuve-lès-Avignon. The river repeatedly broke arches, and the bridge was abandoned in the seventeenth century, so today four arches and a small two-storey chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas remain, projecting into the current. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the old town, and its fame comes from the song about dancing on the bridge. In fact people danced beneath it, on the island, but the song is the reason every child in France knows its name. You walk out onto the surviving stretch, enter the chapel, and use the touchscreen tablets and audio guide to see how the bridge looked when it crossed the whole river.
The bridge is a short, easy visit that works best as a pair with the palace. Out on the span you get the view that makes the stop worthwhile: the Rhône sliding past, the ramparts, the Rocher des Doms and the palace rising behind. The chapel at the bridge's middle is small but atmospheric, with two stacked chapels, a Romanesque one below and a Gothic one above, that explain why a pilgrimage cult grew around the shepherd Bénézet, who was said to have been inspired to build the bridge.
Audio guides in many languages, and a version for children, bring the story to life.
Winter hours, which cover November, run from 10:00 to 17:00 daily and lengthen later in the season. The bridge ticket on its own is a few euros, while the combined ticket with the Palais des Papes, which is the way most people buy it, includes an audio guide and the palace gardens.
Children under ten enter free. The bridge is exposed to the wind from the river, and in winter the mistral can make the walk out bracing, so a scarf and a windproof layer are more useful than they sound. The walkway is an open span with railings, so keep a hand on small children.
Allow about an hour. For a free view of the bridge without a ticket, climb through the Rocher des Doms park and see it from above with the whole Rhône behind, or look across from the far bank. A good sequence is the palace in the morning, lunch in the old town and the bridge in the late afternoon light, before the last entry at closing time.
What to expect
The experience
A walk out along the surviving arches and chapel of the medieval bridge, with an audio guide and touchscreen tablets explaining its history.
Best time
Late afternoon for the light on the river and the palace, or midweek mornings for fewer visitors.
How long
About an hour including the chapel.
Tips
Wrap up against the wind on the span, and note that the winter hours are generally 10:00 to 17:00.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Anyone who knows the song and wants the photograph, plus the view of the palace from the river.
- Families
- Children under ten are free and enjoy the song and the chapel, but watch them on the open span.
- Couples
- A late-afternoon walk out on the arches, then dinner in the old town.
- Pair with
- The Palais des Papes, via the combined ticket, and the Rocher des Doms.
- Time needed
- One hour.
Good questions
Why does the Pont d'Avignon stop in the middle of the river?+
The Rhône repeatedly destroyed its arches, and by the seventeenth century the bridge was no longer repaired. Four arches and the chapel of Saint Nicholas survive.
Can you walk on the bridge?+
Yes, you can walk out along the surviving arches to the chapel. It is an open span, so it can be windy in winter.
Is the combined ticket with the palace better value?+
Usually, yes. It adds the bridge, the papal gardens and an audio guide for a small supplement over the palace ticket.
What are the hours in November?+
The bridge is open daily on winter hours, generally 10:00 to 17:00. Hours lengthen slightly later in the season.
Where can I see the bridge for free?+
The Rocher des Doms park above the palace and the riverside path along the ramparts both give a good view. The best photographs are from the opposite bank of the river at sunset.
