Bridge of Avignon

The Saint-Benese Bridge, or Avignon Bridge, was built in 1185 and its construction began in 1177. The bridge served as a crossing over the Rhône River, connecting France and the Papal States.

There is a legend about the appearance of the bridge, according to which an ordinary teenage shepherd from the province received a divine message about the construction of a bridge in Avignon.

At that time, the Saint-Benese Bridge was the only crossing over the Rhône River that served traders and travelers for a long time. Border outposts were installed near the bridge, taxes and duties were collected here, and the St. Nicholas Chapel was built.

At the beginning of the XVII century from 1603 to 1605, four arches of the bridge collapsed, later they were completely restored. But, in 1699, during a severe flood, almost the entire bridge collapsed, leaving only four spans in memory of descendants, which have survived to this day.