Villeneuve-lès-Avignon

Villeneuve-lès-Avignon (French pronunciation: [vil'nœv lez‿avi'ɲɔ̃]; 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
Commune
Fort Saint-André on Mont Andaon
Coat of arms
Location of Villeneuve-lès-Avignon
Villeneuve-lès-Avignon Show map of France Villeneuve-lès-Avignon Show map of Occitanie
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  (2022)[2]	12,950
• Density	710/km2 (1,800/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

It is located on the right (western) bank of the river Rhône, opposite Avignon.

Population

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1793 3,300 —     1800 3,297 −0.01% 1806 3,279 −0.09% 1821 3,232 −0.10% 1831 3,564 +0.98% 1836 3,633 +0.38% 1841 3,671 +0.21% 1846 3,723 +0.28% 1851 3,733 +0.05% 1856 3,252 −2.72% 1861 3,162 −0.56% 1866 3,067 −0.61% 1872 2,730 −1.92% 1876 2,910 +1.61% 1881 2,630 −2.00% 1886 2,644 +0.11% 1891 2,622 −0.17% 1896 2,735 +0.85%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1901 2,922 +1.33% 1906 2,890 −0.22% 1911 2,709 −1.29% 1921 2,561 −0.56% 1926 3,035 +3.45% 1931 3,635 +3.67% 1936 3,740 +0.57% 1946 4,399 +1.64% 1954 5,157 +2.01% 1962 6,422 +2.78% 1968 6,977 +1.39% 1975 8,540 +2.93% 1982 9,282 +1.20% 1990 10,730 +1.83% 1999 11,791 +1.05% 2007 12,644 +0.88% 2012 12,232 −0.66% 2017 11,698 −0.89%
Source: EHESS[4] and INSEE (1968–2017)[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

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in France

Villeneuve-lès-Avignon is twinned with:

• Rheinbach, Germany
• Gytheio, Greece
• San Miniato, Italy

Gallery

• 
  Tour Philippe Le Bel
• 
  Fort Saint-André
• 
  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

See also

• Communes of the Gard department
• Pont d'Avignon