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Tower of Philip the Fair today

France · Restored

Tower of Philip the Fair

Tour Philippe-le-Bel

The Tour Philippe-le-Bel is a medieval stone tower at the Villeneuve-lès-Avignon end of the Saint-Bénézet Bridge, erected under Philip IV as the French bridgehead and part of a small fortress. The gatehouse, curtain wall and ancillary buildings have been demolished; the tower alone survives and is open to the public as a protected historic monument.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1292

Its prime

1350

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1350

What Tower of Philip the Fair looked like in its prime.

A massive, irregular quadrilateral limestone keep of three storeys, rising directly from a sloping rocky base beside the Rhône; pale, roughly rusticated ashlar on the lower levels and smoother limestone higher up. The flat roof is surrounded by a crenellated parapet with projecting machicolations and a small rectangular turret at one corner. Narrow vertical arrow-slits and window niches puncture very thick walls; traces of projecting bonding stones mark where a curtain wall was once planned or attached.

Its story

The story of Tower of Philip the Fair.

Philip IV, Philippe le Bel, raised the tower as the French bridgehead of the Saint-Bénézet Bridge across the Rhône, having ceded his claim to Avignon in 1290 to Charles II of Naples, Count of Provence. A tower of only two storeys was completed in 1302 and, despite protests from the Count of Provence and the population of Avignon, a gatehouse followed at the bridge end; with a curtain wall enclosing a chapel and a residence for the châtelain, the whole formed a small fortress. A third storey was added in the middle of the 14th century.

The Saint-Bénézet Bridge was abandoned in 1669 and the fortress ceased to serve any useful function; the crown paid for repairs until the French Revolution, after which the buildings fell into ruin. In 1822 the town of Villeneuve-lès-Avignon demolished everything except the present tower, selling the material to cover costs. Listed as a Monument historique in 1862, the tower is owned by the commune and open to the public.

Step inside

10 places to explore in 1350.

The record describes 10 distinct spots at Tower of Philip the Fair, including 3 interiors: ground-floor guardroom (interior), narrow spiral staircase (interior), first-floor reception hall (interior). Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach from the bridge (exterior)Harbour at the tower base (exterior)Gatehouse and bridgehead connection (exterior)North entrance with bretèche and murder-hole (exterior)Ground-floor guardroom (interior)Narrow spiral staircase (interior)First-floor reception hall (interior)West wall garderobe doorways (exterior)East face carved crests (exterior)Roof terrace and rectangular turret (exterior)

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Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Tower of Philip the Fair.

Palais des Papes, FrancePalacePalais des Papes1 km awayPont du Gard, FranceAncient sitePont du Gard21 km awayArles Amphitheatre, FranceStadiumArles Amphitheatre34 km away

Questions about Tower of Philip the Fair

What is the history of Tower of Philip the Fair?

Tower of Philip the Fair was built in the late 13th and early 14th centuries as the French bridgehead of the Saint-Bénézet Bridge across the Rhône. A two-storey tower was completed by 1302, followed by a gatehouse and a curtain-walled fortress enclosing a chapel and residence. A third storey was added around the middle of the 14th century. The fortress lost its function after the bridge was abandoned in 1669, and all but the tower was demolished in 1822.

What is inside Tower of Philip the Fair?

Tower of Philip the Fair contains a ground-floor guardroom, a first-floor reception hall and a narrow spiral staircase. The guardroom has a ribbed vault, fireplace, arrowslits and traces of wall paintings. The reception hall has carved corbels and ceiling bosses, while the staircase leads to the upper rooms and roof terrace.

Who owns Tower of Philip the Fair now?

Tower of Philip the Fair is owned by the commune of Villeneuve-lès-Avignon. It was listed as a Monument historique in 1862, and the surviving tower is open to the public. The surrounding gatehouse, curtain wall and ancillary buildings no longer survive.

Why was Tower of Philip the Fair built, and what was it used for?

Tower of Philip the Fair was built to secure the French end of the Saint-Bénézet Bridge across the Rhône. It formed part of a small fortress, with a gatehouse controlling the bridge and a curtain wall enclosing a chapel and a residence for the châtelain. After the bridge was abandoned in 1669, the fortress ceased to serve a useful function.

Where is Tower of Philip the Fair?

Tower of Philip the Fair stands at Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, beside the Rhône and at the French end of the Saint-Bénézet Bridge. Its harbour was at the base of the tower, and the approach lies at the Villeneuve-lès-Avignon end of the bridge.

When was Tower of Philip the Fair built?

Tower of Philip the Fair was first raised in the 13th century, in 1292, and its initial two-storey tower was completed by 1302. A third storey was added around the middle of the 14th century, with the French account dating this raising of the tower to around 1360.

What did Tower of Philip the Fair look like in its prime?

Tower of Philip the Fair is a massive, irregular quadrilateral limestone keep of three storeys, rising from a sloping rocky base beside the Rhône. Its lower levels use pale, roughly rusticated ashlar, while the higher walls are smoother limestone. A crenellated parapet, projecting machicolations, narrow arrow-slits and a small rectangular turret define its fortified silhouette.

Is Tower of Philip the Fair still standing, or is it a ruin?

Tower of Philip the Fair is still standing and has been restored, but it is the only surviving part of the medieval fortress. The gatehouse, curtain wall and ancillary buildings were demolished in 1822, and their material was sold to cover the costs. The tower was listed as a Monument historique in 1862.

Who built Tower of Philip the Fair?

Tower of Philip the Fair was commissioned by Philip IV of France, while the king’s architect Randolphe de Mornel completed the first floor of the tower in 1303. Philip IV was therefore the patron, and Randolphe de Mornel is the named architect associated with its construction.

Can you visit Tower of Philip the Fair?

Tower of Philip the Fair is open to the public. The ground-floor room is used for art exhibitions, while the first-floor room houses an exhibition on the history of the tower and the Saint-Bénézet Bridge.

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