Visit the Pont d’Avignon: tickets, prices, opening hours

How to visit the Pont d’Avignon Here you’ll find all the information you need to visit this famous monument, whose real name is Pont Saint-Bénézet!

Renowned beyond our borders for its famous children’s song, the Pont d’Avignon has also had a rich and eventful history. Witness to the region’s wars and the whims of the Rhône, it has been rebuilt several times. Pont Saint-Bénezet – its real name – is thought to have been built in the 12th century. An engineering feat, the bridge was once used to link the two banks of the river. Now a Unesco World Heritage site, it attracts over 400,000 visitors every year…

Visiting Provence? Discover the legend of the miracle of Saint Bénézet! Whether you’d like to admire the monument from afar or take a stroll around it, here’s all the information you need to know before visiting the Pont d’Avignon!

History of the Pont d’Avignon

Photo credit: Shutterstock / Nickolay Stanev

Construction of the bridge dates back to the late 12th century. Built on the remains of a Roman bridge, it was designed to cross the Rhône. A young shepherd named Bénézet is said to have been responsible for its construction. Legend has it that he came down from the Ardèche mountains, claiming to have been sent by God to build the bridge. The people of Avignon laughed at him. The prelate adopted the same attitude, instructing him to carry a very heavy block of stone on his back and throw it into the river. Nevertheless, the miracle took place and the stone fell into the Rhône, to everyone’s astonishment. From then on, Bénézet was elevated to the rank of Saint!

When completed, the bridge stretches some 920 meters long and 4 meters wide. No fewer than twenty-two arches span the Rhône in a curve. Too narrow for goods carts to pass each other, the bridge was mainly used to control river traffic and collect tolls. In those days, Popes used to pray at the chapel of Bénézet and leave an alms of one florin. Damaged by river flooding and war, the bridge was rebuilt several times. Finally, it became too costly to maintain and was abandoned at the end of the 17th century. Louis XIV was one of the last to cross the Rhône. Today, all that remains are four arches and a cute chapel dedicated to Saint Nicolas, the patron saint of bargemen.

On the Pont d’Avignon, we dance, we dance

Photo credit: Shutterstock / Pack-Shot

Are you wondering why the children’s rhyme « Sur le Pont d’Avignon, on y danse, on y danse… » is so well-known? In fact, historians have discovered that in the 15th century, many of the popular songs accompanying wedding receptions evoked the Pont d’Avignon. They were called « pillow songs ». The operetta that inspired the nursery rhyme dates back to 1853, and is itself said to have been influenced by these popular tunes of yesteryear. A funny detail: it was actually impossible to dance on the bridge, due to its narrowness! Instead, people partied under the bridge, on the banks of the Rhône.

What to see and do at Pont d’Avignon?

Photo credit: Shutterstock / illpaxphotomatic

The Pont d’Avignon can be visited day or night, near or far. When you’re in the center of Avignon, the view is magnificent. You can also admire the edifice free of charge from theÎle de la Barthelasse. Either way, there are some wonderful photos to be taken, whether in the sunlight of the day, or when the bridge is lit up in the evening and there’s no one left on it.

If you want to tread the ground and dance on the bridge, get your ticket! You’ll benefit from detailed explanations and a beautiful view of the Rhône and Avignon’s surrounding walls. Four years of research led by historians, archaeologists, geomorphologists and architects have resulted in a 3D reconstruction of the building in its medieval setting. Visitors can also enjoy a film on the history of the Pont d’Avignon. An exhibition on this research and another film on construction techniques are equally interesting. When you buy your ticket to walk on the bridge, you’ll also receive an audio-guide and a touch-screen tablet (optional): perfect for discovering the legend and history of the bridge! What’s more, the municipality has had the good idea of offering a combined ticket with a visit to the Palais des Papes. What better way to discover the region’s fascinating history!

A word of advice: go at sunset! The light on the river and the city is so beautiful, it’s ideal for photos. Don’t forget to immortalize the moment with a little dance!

How do I get to the Pont d’Avignon?

The famous Pont Saint-Bénézet is located just outside the city of Avignon. The address is Boulevard de la Ligne, 84000 Avignon.

Getting to Avignon

• By train

Avignon is accessible via two train stations: Avignon-Centre and Avignon-TGV. By TGV, you’re 2 hours 40 minutes from Paris, 3 hours from Roissy and 1 hour from Lyon on the TGV Méditerranée. Once you’ve arrived at the TGV station, it will take you 5 minutes to get to the city center. A frequent shuttle bus links the two stations in just 4 minutes. Avignon-Centre is served by regional trains, Intercités and TGVs from Paris.

• By car

Are you coming by car? On theA7 freeway, exit at Avignon Sud if you’re coming from Marseille, Nice or Italy, and Avignon Nord if you’re coming from Lyon or Paris. Are you coming from Nîmes, Montpellier or Spain? Then take the Remoulins exit.

How to get to the Pont d’Avignon

• By bus

Once in town, if you want to go directly from the Avignon-Centre train station to the Pont d’Avignon, you can either walk there (the distance is 1.6 kilometers), or take public transport. Bus line 57 takes you there in about fifteen minutes. By car or cab, it takes two minutes.

Pont d’Avignon opening hours & rates

If you’re content to visit the Pont Saint-Bénézet from afar, there’s no need to pay a fee or set a time. You can admire it and take photos at any time of day or night, from the heights of the city or from the banks of the Rhône. For an in-depth, informative visit, here are the times and prices for access to the bridge:

SCHEDULES

Open all year round, every day.

• March: 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• April to end of June: 9am – 7pm
• July: 9am – 8pm
• August: 9am – 8.30pm
• September to end of October: 9am – 7pm
• November to end of February: 9:30 a.m. – 5:45 p.m.

Ticket offices close 30 minutes before the monument closes.

RATES

Tours are offered with a free audioguide (11 languages available) and touch-screen tablet. A combined ticket with access to the Palais des Papes is also available.

• Full price: single visit €5 / with Palais des Papes €14.50
• Reduced rate*: single visit €4 / with Palais des Papes €11.50
• Free admission for children under 8, people with disabilities over 80%, Avignon residents, curator-guides, journalists, jobseekers on presentation of recent proof of employment (6 months), culture pass holders.
• Special family rates are available.

*children aged 8 to 17, university students, large families, people with disabilities up to 80%, over 60s, RSA recipients, etc.).

Special tours

• Pont d’Avignon + boat tour: €13.50 (available from April to September). Free for children under 8.

Opening hours: April: 3 pm – May, June and September: 3 pm and 4:15 pm – July: 2 pm, 3:15 pm, 4:30 pm and 5:45 pm – August: 11 am, 2 pm, 3:15 pm, 4:30 pm and 5:45 pm.

• Avignon on a summer’s evening. This walk begins at the bridge and continues through the city as the sun sets.

Prices: €9 / Duo: €15.50 / Free for children under 8.

Opening hours: July and August / daily at 5.45pm. September / Wednesday and Friday at 5:45pm.

• 1:30-hour walk and show: discover the secrets and legends of the monument and its neighborhood. Dramatized visit and privileged access to the Chapelle Saint-Bénézet.

Prices: full price €16.50 / concessions : 14.50 € / Reduced rate €6.50 for 8-11 year-olds / free for under-8s.

Opening times: August only, 10am or 5:45pm depending on the day.