Collégiale Notre-Dame, Gothic church in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, France.

The Collégiale Notre-Dame is a Gothic church whose east end is dominated by a square tower of light beige stone, built in 1362. Its top carries rectangular merlons, and below them a pointed arch holds two narrow arched bays flanking a round clock face; lower down, a small barred window sits above a large pointed-arch recess with a traceried window. Buttresses project from the tower's corners, and lower wings with pointed roofs adjoin it on the left.

Construction of this building began in 1314 and was consecrated in 1333 by Cardinal Arnaud de Via, nephew of Pope John XXII. The addition of a bell tower in 1362 marked a further development of the complex and solidified its importance in the region.

The church takes its name from Notre-Dame, to whom Arnaud de Via dedicated the collegiate foundation in 1333, endowing it with twelve canons led by a dean. Since the Revolution it has served as the parish church of Villeneuve, replacing Saint-Pons. The cloister, built from 1336, has four well-preserved galleries of pointed arcades on a continuous low wall.

The church stands on the north bank of the Rhône, facing Avignon across the river. The cloister adjoins the north side of the nave, and the south portal opens onto the square. The building is an active parish church, so visits may be interrupted by services; check locally before planning a tour of the interior.

The bell tower, added in 1362, rises above the Rhône valley and shapes the city's skyline with its silhouette. Its height and visibility from a distance make it a recognizable landmark of the area.