Fort Saint-André de Villeneuve-les-Avignon

Overlooking the town of Villeneuve-Les-Avignon, Fort Saint-André offers visitors a testament to the history of the region and France. Sponsored by Philipoe le Bel in 1292, he had the dual mission to assert the royal power in the province of Languedoc freshly attached to the kingdom and monitor the gates of the Empire. It also aimed to protect the Benedictine abbey and the village of Saint-Andre already present on Mount Andaon. Its strategic importance has reached its apogee in 1316 when the popes moved to Avignon. It then diminished over the centuries and events: the annexation of the kingdom of Provence, ending the Avignon papal possession, changing the bed of the Rhone, which went off loan of 900 meters from the fort. The strong as we know today as the last architect was John Loubières, the architect of the papal palace in Avignon. Consists of a walled enclosure, flanked by guard towers and a gatehouse flanked by twin towers, it offers a unique panoramic view of Mont Ventoux, the Alpilles and Avignon. Fort Saint-Andre is a historical monument since the early 18th century.