Family visit and workshop in Avignon: the Pont d’Avignon 2026

Avignon Tourisme invites families to a visit and workshop centred on the Pont d’Avignon, held at the Palais des Papes in Avignon. Visitors learn how the medieval town was laid out, then try their hand at building a bridge.

Five stops from Place du Palais to the Pont Saint-Bénezet

The tour tells the story of how the Pont d’Avignon was built, and along the way reveals how the city was planned in the Middle Ages. It unfolds in five stages:

• Place du Palais: the focus here is the 14th century, with town life, trades, getting around and the political stakes of the period.
• Cathédrale Notre-Dame des Doms: as the religious heart of the city, it opens a discussion of the ties between spiritual authority and papal power, and of how the canons’ quarter evolved.
• Rocher des Doms: from the viewpoint, visitors read the landscape by picking out the Rhône, the old routes and the line of the bridge, which explains why the Pont Saint-Bénezet was built exactly where it was.
• The ramparts: these medieval fortifications are examined for their defensive role, their development and their effect on the town’s expansion, before a discussion of how the city was protected and its gates watched.
• Pont d’Avignon (Pont Saint-Bénezet): here the legend of Bénezet is told, along with the construction techniques of the Middle Ages, the obstacles the Rhône created and the reasons the structure gradually fell into ruin. Visitors also look at the surviving arches and the chapels.

The « Construis ton pont ! » workshop: arches, piers and a team challenge

Once the tour is over, the « Construis ton pont ! » workshop begins. Participants first learn the basics of bridge design (arches, piers, forces and materials), then get hands-on. The team challenge is to build a stable bridge that can carry a weight, drawing on the medieval techniques seen along the route.

The workshop has several educational aims:

• understanding the technical constraints of a medieval building site;
• experiencing cooperation and problem solving;
• encouraging creativity and fine motor skills;
• giving families a time that is both immersive and fun.

About 2 hours of visit and workshop, for ages 8 and over

The visit and workshop lasts about 2 hours. It is not suitable for children under 8. Please also note that the Palais des Papes cannot be accessed by visitors with reduced mobility, because of the many steps.

As for the cost, the price is €20 for one adult and one child, plus €10 for each additional child. It includes admission to the Palais des Papes, the visit and the workshop.