The little sister of the City of Popes, on the right bank of the Rhône.

A city of character set on the right bank of the Rhône, once a stronghold of the Kingdom of France, Villeneuve-lès-Avignon offers a serene and captivating counterpoint to the vibrant bustle of the City of Popes.

A history shared across the Rhône

The Rhône has always acted as a boundary separating Villeneuve from its illustrious neighbor. Once part of the French crown, it now belongs to the Gard department and the Occitanie region. Yet Villeneuve is inseparable from Avignon: during the time of the Popes, cardinals settled here in sumptuous palaces. Even today, the town is home to the most desirable residential neighborhoods of the Avignon area.

Subtle beauty in the shadow of its splendid neighbor

The historic heart of Villeneuve reveals a refined, almost monastic beauty, imbued with the spirit of the magnificent Charterhouse that borders the old town. The austere ramparts of Fort Saint-André crown the summit of Mount Andaon, its pale limestone ablaze under the golden evening light. Bathed in sunshine and surrounded by olive trees, cypresses, and scrubland, the town stretches between rolling hills and the riverbank. Nature is close at hand, and the serenity of hanging gardens answers the gentle murmur of the verdant Rhône plain.

Sentinel of the Kingdom of France

Founded in the 13th century by Philip the Fair to assert royal power in the face of the Papal States, Villeneuve immediately welcomed the cardinals, princes of the Church. Feeling confined in Avignon, they found here—just across the Saint-Bénézet bridge—the space needed to build their palaces. The town soon blossomed with cardinal’s residences.

Benefiting from the immense wealth of the Church and the vibrant trade generated by the bridge, Villeneuve adorned itself with remarkable monuments: the Charterhouse of Val de Bénédiction—one of the largest Carthusian monasteries in Europe—and Fort Saint-André, built by the king on Mount Andaon. The formidable Tour Philippe-le-Bel was erected to guard the French entrance of the Saint-Bénézet bridge. As an extension of Avignon, Villeneuve became an important intellectual and religious hub in the 14th and 15th centuries.

Exploring Villeneuve-lès-Avignon

Villeneuve unfolds as you climb the sloping lanes of Mount Andaon toward Fort Saint-André, where a breathtaking view of Avignon and its palace awaits. Along the way, the ancient cardinal’s palaces can still be glimpsed, nestled discreetly within the urban fabric reshaped over the centuries. In the heart of the old town, Place Jean Jaurès invites visitors to pause. The Thursday farmers’ market and Saturday antique market bring the square to life. In summer, exhibitions at the Charterhouse and the Avignon Festival weave a dialogue between ancient heritage and contemporary creation.

The Mourgues Hill

The Mourgues Hill extends the landscape of Villeneuve to the south of the old town, facing Mount Andaon. Once monastic land untouched by construction, it is now a preserved natural area. Its gentle slopes of pine and olive groves create a bucolic retreat. From its summit, the view embraces the Rhône plain, Avignon and its Palais des Papes opposite, and the Alpilles to the south. Relatively unfrequented, the Mourgues Hill is a haven for walkers seeking light and peace—a vast green interlude infused with the site’s spiritual past and the beauty of the landscape.

Find a Guest House near Avignon

Cross the Rhône, and extend your visit to Avignon by discovering Villeneuve—its discreet and sunlit twin.