Brazil
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
French Guiana
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Germany
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Denmark
Spain
Finland
Greece
the Netherlands
Hungary
Ireland
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Poland
Portugal
the United Kingdom
the Czech Republic
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
the United States
Mexico
the Dominican Republic
South Africa
Australia
Fiji
Monument · Avignon, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Fort Saint-André
Medieval fortress atop Mont Andaon in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, on the far side of the Rhône, with twin towers, ramparts and views of the Palais des Papes.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Fort Saint-André
Fort Saint-André sits atop Mont Andaon in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, a town on the right bank of the Rhône opposite Avignon. In the 14th century this bank belonged to the kingdom of France while Avignon was papal territory. The king ordered the hill to be fortified, which already had a Benedictine abbey, resulting in a rampart with an entrance guarded by twin towers.
The visit includes the towers, from which you can see all of Avignon, the Palais des Papes, the Pont Saint-Bénézet and Mont Ventoux. Inside the walls are the remains of the abbey of Saint-André and a small Romanesque chapel. The abbey has its own gardens, administered separately.
Villeneuve-lès-Avignon has other sites linked to the cardinals who lived there in the papal era. The main one is the Chartreuse Notre-Dame-du-Val-de-Bénédiction, a large Carthusian monastery founded in the 14th century by Pope Innocent VI, which today operates as a cultural centre devoted to theatre and welcomes visitors. Near the bridge is the Tour Philippe-le-Bel, a tower that once watched over passage on the Rhône.
The group of sites can be done on foot in half a day and is quieter than Avignon even in July. The town is in the department of Gard, in the Occitânia region, but only 3 km from central Avignon.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
1 hour at the fort. With the Chartreuse and a walk around the town, half a day.
Best time
Late afternoon, when the sun lights up the Palais des Papes across the river. Opening times for the fort and the Chartreuse vary by season; check before you go.
How to get there
From Avignon, city buses cross the Rhône to Villeneuve-lès-Avignon in about 15 minutes. By car it's about 3 km. On foot, via the Pont Daladier and the île de la Barthelasse, the walk takes around 45 minutes.
Tip
Combine the fort with the Chartreuse Notre-Dame-du-Val-de-Bénédiction, a 5-minute walk away. The tops of the twin towers offer one of the best views of Avignon.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Fort Saint-André
Is Villeneuve-lès-Avignon worth a visit?
Yes, for those with more than one day in Avignon. Fort Saint-André offers the best view of the Palais des Papes, and the Chartreuse is one of the largest Carthusian monasteries in France. The town is much quieter than Avignon.
What is the Chartreuse?
It is the Chartreuse Notre-Dame-du-Val-de-Bénédiction, a Carthusian monastery founded by Pope Innocent VI in the 14th century. Today it is a cultural center dedicated to theatrical writing and welcomes visitors to the cloisters, cells and church.
How to get from Avignon to Villeneuve-lès-Avignon?
City buses cross the Rhône in about 15 minutes. By car it’s roughly 3 km. On foot, crossing via the Pont Daladier and the île de la Barthelasse takes about 45 minutes.