Bénézet of Avignon was a 12th-century French shepherd who became a saint in the Catholic Church. Born in Burzet around 1165, he is famously credited with the construction of the Pont Saint-Bénézet, a bridge spanning the Rhône River. According to tradition, a divine vision during an eclipse inspired him to undertake this massive engineering project. Despite initial resistance from local authorities, he successfully initiated the construction, eventually securing the necessary funding to complete the structure in Avignon.