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Origin and history

The Philippe-le-Bel Tower is a fortress built at the beginning of the 14th century in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, on the orders of King Philip the Bel, in the framework of a betting treaty with the Abbey of St Andrew. Its construction, entrusted to architect Randolphe de Mornel, began around 1300 to replace a first tower destroyed in 1226. The site, strategic near the Saint-Bénézet bridge, sparked conflicts with the Avignonnais and the king of Sicily Charles II, who tried to stop the work in 1302. Despite the protests, the tower was completed in 1303, with a first floor and an adjacent chestnut now disappeared.

Around 1360, the tower was enhanced by a third gothic level, with round mâchicoulis and dacauguettes, raising its height to 27 metres. A 7-metre square watch was added, culminating at 39 meters, reinforcing its role as defensive dungeon and residence for the chestnut. The interior rooms, equipped with fireplaces and latrines, reflect this dual use. The exterior trim mixes smooth stones and bosses, typical of the royal fortifications of the 14th century, while the patterns of the upper floors date from the second half of the century.

The tower was listed as a historic monument in 1862 and has been owned by the municipality since 1829. Its history illustrates the rivalries between the crown of France, the papacy of Avignon and local authorities. The archaeological sources and medieval texts (such as the letters of Philippe le Bel or Charles II) confirm its key role in defending the Rhône and controlling the Saint-Bénézet bridge, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Its architecture combines military elements (single door defended by an assommoir, crenellated platform) and residential elements ( vaulted rooms, windows). The tower also bears witness to stylistic evolutions between the 14th and 15th centuries, with heavy veins on the ground floor and more refined Gothic details on the upper floors. The excavations and studies (especially by Léopold Duhamel or Léon-Honoré Labande) underline its importance in the history of medieval urban planning in Occitanie.

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