Maison aux Ballons

The Maison aux Ballons is an 18th-century private house located at 18 Rue Saint-Etienne. Situated very close to the medieval city walls, this otherwise unassuming traditional stone residence holds a unique place in the history of human flight.

The historical significance of this building lies not in its architecture, but in a moment of scientific inspiration. It is widely recognized as the exact location where Joseph de Montgolfier, while staying in Avignon in 1782, first conceived the groundbreaking idea that would lead to the invention of the hot-air balloon.

Today, visitors walking down the quiet Rue Saint-Etienne will see a well-preserved, classic Provençal townhouse. While it is a private residence and cannot be entered, its simple stone facade and quiet courtyard setting offer a charming glimpse into 18th-century domestic life in Avignon.

According to enduring local legend, Montgolfier's stroke of genius happened entirely by accident inside this house. He supposedly realized that heated air could lift objects after watching a shirt billow upward while he was drying his laundry over a fire in the hearth.