Visit to the Medieval Fort Saint Andre in Villeneuve

Built in stages throughout the 14th century around the Abbaye Saint André, it was originally constructed to serve as a symbol of power in relation to the pontifical powers across the river.

Although the Benedictine abbey was founded in the 10th century, the origins of the abbey date even further back to a hermit saint, Casarie, who lived in a grotto at the top of the hill. Now there is a chapel built on top of the grotto where Sainte-Casarie lived and you can walk inside if you like.

Erected on the hill towering over Villeneuve, the fortress offers spectacular views of the Palais des Papes, the Rhône River, the Luberon, Mont Ventoux, and Provence.

After you pay the admission fee, visitors are invited to watch a movie detailing the history of the fortress and abbey, and then you follow signs through the abbey and eventually, walk out into the garden. Walking through the abbey was really cool (both interesting and temperature wise), but my favourite part was exploring the magnificent gardens. This was truly a surprise – I had no idea these elaborately terraced gardens even existed behind the intimidating stonewalls of the fort.

These gardens are noted as one of the most beautiful gardens in France. Visiting during the spring when the flowers are in full bloom was definitely a treat. Beautiful roses, pergolas, olive trees and ornamental ponds are among the many treasures found here. Peaceful and tranquil, the well-maintained gardens are certainly worth visiting at any time of the year.

The abbatial palace is quite impressive too – with stunning vaulted rooms and intricately sculpted ceilings. In the hallways of the palace, you will find art exhibitions and concerts are often held here too. Built by some of the best architects of the time, the building is quite remarkable, but in my opinion, not as enjoyable as the gardens.

Throughout the brilliant gardens, you'll find tables and chairs set up for you to sit down and relax. Find a spot in the shade with a view of Avignon, and you've got yourself the perfect spot for a picnic. The views here are truly spectacular, so picnic or not, you'll want to take a seat and just take it all in.

The fortress is located in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, just a short distance from the centre of Avignon (about 2km).

After you check out the fortress, stroll into the town of Villeneuve and take a look around. Very quaint and Provençal, Villeneuve has lots of little shops, cafés and restaurants to visit. If you find yourself in need of a cold drink, there are some nice terraces on Place Jean Jaurès where you can sit and enjoy the shade.

Other attractions to visit in the area include the Chartreuse du Val-de-Bénédiction, this one of the oldest Carthusian monasteries in France. Currently, part of the building houses a workshop for painters and writers who are pursuing their craft.

Another great thing to check out is the Villeneuve markets which take place twice a week. On Thursday mornings there is an amazing food market and on Saturdays there is a wonderful 'brocante' or flea market. A lot of the food vendors make an appearance on Saturday too, so this is a great place to pick up ingredients for a picnic or dinner.