Avignon

The Pont d'Avignon in Provence is famous with children everywhere who sing the song "sur le pont d'Avignon".

Midway across the bridge is the tiny chapel of St Bénézet.

The Guide de la Provence Mystérieuse tells us that in 1177 while Bénézet was still a child he was one day watching over his mother's sheep when he was called by a voice from the sky. The great voice told him that it was Jesus Christ himself who spoke, and that he wished for Bénézet to build a bridge over the river Rhône.

Bénézet protested that he should not leave his mother's sheep, and that he knew nothing of architecture or the river. However the voice insisted, promising that another shepherd boy should come to guard the sheep, and that a guide would be provided to help Bénézet in his task.

So Bénézet dutifully set off and soon met an angel on the road, dressed as a pilgrim. The pilgrim led Bénézet to the Rhône, instructing him to cross the river with the ferryman in order to go to Avignon to present himself to the bishop to explain what he was to do.

So Bénézet went to get in the ferry, but the ferryman, a jew, refused to take Bénézet across the river unless he pay three deniers. But Bénézet had only three oboles - and so he asked the Jew to ferry him across the river for the love of God and the Virgin Mary. The jew replied that he would rather have the three deniers than a love for an outmoded belief... however he did indeed take Bénézet across the river.

When Bénézet found the bishop he was mocked by the bishop and told to go to the provost, a stern man, and tell to him the tale of his task.

The provost in his turn also laughed at Bénézet and sent him to the provost's palace to try to fetch the huge stone which he should find there, to prove that he was capable of the task which he had been assigned. Bénézet returned to the bishop to tell him of the task that the provost had set him to accomplish.

The bishop called the people to follow him to see Bénézet try to accomplish the task which they thought impossible - for the stone could not be lifted by thirty men. However, Bénézet lifted the stone with ease and took it to the bank of the Rhône to support the first arch for the pont d'Avignon.

Bénézet became famed for the miracles which he accomplished - he made the blind to see, the deaf to hear, and the lame to walk.

Bénézet is known as St Bénézet although he was never canonised.

The Guide de la Provence Mystérieuse is an invaluable source of information of the sites, legends, myths and customs of Provence.