Tour Philippe-le-Bel is a medieval tower in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon which marked the French terminus of the Saint-Bénézet Bridge across the Rhone between the Kingdom of France and Papal territory of Avignon. It is named after the French king Philippe-le-Bel who was responsible for its construction.
A tower with only two storeys was completed in 1302. In spite of protests from the Count of Provence and the population of Avignon, Philippe-le-Bel pressed ahead and built a gatehouse at the end of the bridge. The tower and gatehouse formed part of a fortress with a curtain wall that enclosed several buildings including a chapel and a residence for the châtelain. A third storey was added to the tower in the middle of the 14th century.
Oct, Feb - Apr:
Tue - Sun: 2 - 5 pm (Wed also 10 am - noon)
Jun - Sep:
Tue - Sun: 10 am - 6 pm
Closed: Nov - Jan, May 1
Ticket sale ends 30 minutes before closing.
Full: € 2.50
Children under 18: free
Oct - May: free entrance on the first Sun of the month
Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_Philippe-le-Bel
Official website http://en.ot-villeneuvelezavignon.fr/discover/135-tour-philippe-le-bel
Phone +33 4 90 25 61 33
Address Rue Montee-de-la-Tour, 30400 Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, France
Coordinates 43°57'30.911" N 4°47'51.331" E
