Fort Saint-andre

Fort Saint-André: The Royal Sentinel Facing Avignon Dominating the town of Villeneuve-lez-Avignon from atop Mount Andaon, Fort Saint-André is a masterpiece of 14th-century military architecture. Built by the kings of France (Philip the Fair and then John the Good) to assert royal power against the Popes residing on the other side of the Rhône, this monumental fort impresses with its perfectly preserved walls and its gatehouse with massive twin towers. Much more than a simple barracks, the fort housed a veritable small town, of which the Abbey of Saint-André and its remarkable gardens remain today. Passing through its portcullises is like stepping back in time to the era when the Rhône marked the border between the Kingdom of France and the Holy Roman Empire. A visit to the ramparts is a spectacular experience. Walking along the ramparts, you'll enjoy a breathtaking, sweeping view of the Palais des Papes, the famous Pont d'Avignon, and the distant peaks of Mont Ventoux and the Alpilles mountains. Inside the gatehouse, vaulted rooms and former prison cells, adorned with historical graffiti, bear witness to a turbulent past. Managed by the Centre des Monuments Nationaux, Fort Saint-André is a must-see for lovers of medieval history and photography, offering an Olympian calm and sublime Provençal light, far removed from the tourist bustle of its neighbor, Avignon.