Pont Saint-Bénézet and Rhône River at dusk, Avignon, France

Pont Saint-Bénézet and Rhône River at dusk, Avignon, France

The water under the bridge in this image belongs to the Rhône River, which flows some 500 miles through Europe on its way to the Mediterranean. Here in Avignon, France, the Rhône flows under the remains of a medieval bridge known as Pont Saint-Bénézet, named for a young shepherd boy. Legend says that sometime around 1177 Bénézet had a vision from God instructing him to build the bridge. He miraculously lifted a block of heavy stone, which inspired the city to help, and Bénézet went on to found a brotherhood of bridge builders.