Villeneuve-lès-Avignon
Commune in Occitania, France
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Villeneuve-lès-Avignon (French pronunciation: [vilnœv lez‿aviɲɔ̃]; Provençal: Vilanòva d’Avinhon) is a commune in the Gard department in southern France. It can also be spelled Villeneuve-lez-Avignon.
Villeneuve-lès-Avignon | |
|---|---|
Fort Saint-André on Mont Andaon | |
![]() Location of Villeneuve-lès-Avignon | |
| Coordinates: 43°58′02″N 4°47′48″E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Occitania |
| Department | Gard |
| Arrondissement | Nîmes |
| Canton | Villeneuve-lès-Avignon |
| Intercommunality | CA Grand Avignon |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–2026) | Pascale Bories[1] |
Area 1 | 18.27 km2 (7.05 sq mi) |
| Population (2023)[2] | 13,148 |
| • Density | 719.6/km2 (1,864/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 30351 /30400 |
| Elevation | 10–181 m (33–594 ft) (avg. 25 m or 82 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
History
In the 6th century the Benedictine abbey of St André was founded on Mount Andaon, and the village which grew up round it took its name.[3] The city itself was founded by Philippe le Bel and boasts a castle he built, Fort Saint-André.
The town was also the resort of the French cardinals during the sojourn of the popes at Avignon, in the 14th century.[3] Another notable tourist attraction is the Tour Philippe-le-Bel, which marks the former northern terminus of the Pont d'Avignon.
Geography
Population
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| Source: EHESS[4] and INSEE (1968–2023)[5] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sights
- Fort Saint-André, on a hill outside the town
- Tour Philippe Le Bel, 14th century
- The church of Notre Dame, dating from the 14th century, contains a rich marble altar and significant pictures.[3]
- Carthusian monastery Notre-Dame-du-Val-de-Bénédiction, founded in 1356 by Pope Innocent VI[3]
International relations
Gallery
- Chartreuse du Val de Bénédiction
- Collapsed apse of church, Chartreuse du Val de Bénédiction
- Cloister of Saint John, Chartreuse du Val de Bénédiction
- Chapel of the frescos, Chartreuse du Val de Bénédiction
- Tomb of Pope Innocent VI, Chartreuse du Val de Bénédiction

