Avignon Bridge viewed from Barthelasse islandThe Pont d'Avignon - or Pont Saint Bénézet - stops suddenly half-way across the Rhône river. But this dramatic, broken bridge remains an iconic landmark, inspiring a famous song.

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A THUMBNAIL HISTORY

It all began in the faraway village of Burzet in the Ardèche, about 150 km / 93 miles north-west of Avignon.

Here, according to the legend, a 12-year-old shepherd named Bénézet was tending his flock one day in 1177 when he heard a divine voice instructing him to go to Avignon and build a bridge.

On arriving there the youth was, naturally, greeted with ridicule. To mock him, the bishop told him to pick up a huge stone that was "too heavy even for 30 men", according to one historical account.

The legend goes on to claim that Bénézet (pictured below, proudly holding a miniature of his bridge) hoisted the rock effortlessly aloft and threw it into the river, where it became the support for the bridge's first arch.

Saint Benezet holding his bridgeFunds from the faithful came flowing in and the project was built. Alas, Bénézet did not live to see it: he died of exhaustion, aged 19, in 1184.

A chapel housing his tomb was built on the bridge and his remains were kept there until the bridge was threatened by flooding.

Then they were moved to Avignon's Célestine monastery in 1674, and later moved again to the church of Saint Didier of Avignon, where they now repose.

Divine visions aside, there were very sound earthly reasons for building the Pont d'Avignon. It was for many years the only stone bridge along the 300 km / 186 mile stretch of the Rhône between Lyon and the Mediterranean.

It originally spanned the Rhône river between Avignon and Villeneuve lès Avignon on the opposite bank, was some 900 metres / 2950 feet long and four metres / 13 feet wide, and consisted of 22 arches (pictured below: the complete original bridge on a 16th century map).

Map of the original 22-arch Pont d'AvignonThese waters were difficult to navigate because of hidden sandbanks and many people had drowned while trying to cross the river by boat. The new bridge saved lives.

Moreover it enabled Avignon to control and levy a tax on the east-west movements of merchants, pilgrims, herders - and, potentially, armies.

The papacy moved to Avignon in the early 14th century and the city became an enclave of the Vatican controlled by the Pope in the heart of France under that country's kings.

The bridge's strategic importance continued to grow. And today the Palais des Papes, and, across the water in Villeneuve lès Avignon, the mighty Tour Philippe le Bel and Fort Saint André continue to stare each other down implacably.

But the bridge was regularly assailed by uprooted trees each time the river flooded. It proved ruinously expensive to maintain and, despite constant repairs, gradually weakened.

It was finally put out of use after a major flood in 1668 undermined much of its structure. Since then, over the years, the surviving arches collapsed and now only four remain.

 

THE VISIT

An audio-guide in a choice of languages (including English) is included in the price of admission. As you go in, you pass through an open-air assembly area with a flight of steps leading up to the bridge.

View along the Pont d'Avignon to the Palais des Papes A lift / elevator and ramps allow disabled access and the upper surface of the bridge has been resurfaced to make it fully wheelchair-friendly.

Inside the 15th century bridgehead, or châtelet, that guards the entrance, there is a small exhibition of panels detailing the building of the bridge.

But the real point of interest are the displays on the lower level, down a part-hidden flight of steps. Don't miss it: it is absolutely fascinating.

The first is devoted to a computer-generated film which allows you to travel back in time to see the Pont d'Avignon as it must have looked on one fine peaceful spring day in the Middle Ages.

film-reconstruction-of-avignon-bridgeMediaeval music plays gently, a windmill creaks and waves lap as the camera glides along the full 22 arches spanning the Rhône all the way from bank to bank - just as the bridge looked before the river swept it away.

This little six-minute film took four years to complete and cost a cool 2.4 million €uros. It's accompanied by a short documentary detailling the clever computer wizardry behind it. If you're not going to Avignon, you can view the film online here.

The second display in the basement is another film, this time about the other research behind the computer-generated reconstruction of the bridge.

It's an utterly riveting detective story involving archeologists, architects, core-drilling, ultra-sound, the study of mediaeval documents and maps, geologists and aerial photography: in sort, a whole team of experts from a wide range of fields.

Their combined efforts uncovered all sorts of secrets about the bridge - and debunked many elements of that old Saint Bénézet legend.

Both films have captions in English and French. The illustrated panels in this basement area also have captions in Italian. It would take you around half an hour to tour it and watch the films.

It won't take you too long to visit the bridge itself. The simple Chapel of Saint Bénézet sits on the third pillar, between the second and third of the four remaining arches. Above it, the Chapel of Saint Nicolas (which was added later) is dedicated to the patron saint of mariners.

If you walk to the end of the existing structure, you have views (somewhat obscured by trees in summer) of Villeneuve lès Avignon across the water. Looking in the other direction, you have a splendid photo opportunity of the Palais de Papes.

If you plan to take advantage of this, the best time to visit is the afternoon, when you won't (as in the photo, above) be shooting into the sun.

And that, really, is about all there is to see. The best views of the bridge itself are, of course, from the land (Avignon's hilltop park, the Jardin du Rocher des Doms, and Barthelasse Island are both excellent vantage points), and from the next bridge downriver, the Pont Edouard Daladier.

THE SONG

The Pont Saint Bénézet has achieved world-wide fame thanks to the song Sur le Pont d'Avignon, originally composed (though with a different melody) by the 16th century musician Pierre Certon.

Illustration for the song Sur le Pont d'AvignonThe modern version dates from the mid-19th century, when Adolphe Adam - best known for his music for the ballet Giselle - included it in an 1853 operetta L'Auberge Pleine (The Full House).

On the audio-guide you get to accompany your visit, you can listen to different versions of the infuriatingly catchy song, in the style of reggae, country and western, bossa nova and more!

The original title was Sous le Pont d'Avignon (Under the Bridge of Avignon), because in medieval times there were popular cafés with dancing and other activities on Barthelasse Island, under the arches of the original bridge.

The song was popularised by an 1876 operetta, Sur le Pont d'Avignon (On the Bridge of Avignon). It renamed the song as it is currently known, as in the 1883 edition of the song, pictured. In fact the bridge is too narrow for much dancing to have been done on it.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Where: Pont Saint Bénézet, rue Ferruce, 84000 Avignon. Tel: (+33) 4 90 27 51 16.

The Pont Saint Bénézet is open all year round. Click here for opening times and admission fees to the Pont Saint Bénézet.

Insider tip for the Palais des Papes in AvignonIf you're planning to take in a number of sights, you might check out the new "Avignon City Pass".

Valid for one or two days, it offers discounts of up to 35 per cent on the price of admission to a dozen or so museums and attractions - including the Palais des Papes and the Pont d'Avignon - both in Avignon itself and in Villeneuve lès Avignon, just on the other side of the river.

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