Pont-du-Gard
Location: near Nîmes, Languedoc-Roussillon, France. Crosses: Gardon River
Material and type: Arch bridge, stone, used as aqueduct, then road bridge, finally tourist attraction
Dimensions: length: 275 m, long span: 25.3 m, height: 47.7 m, width of channel: 1.2 m; slope: 0.19 m/km
Construction: 19 B. C. E.
The Pont-du-Gard is a Roman aqueduct that was constructed during the reign of Caesar Augustus in 19 B. C. E. Composed of three layers of arches, it has a total height of about 48 metres and measures 275 metres in length. It was intended to transport water from sources of the Eure and Airan rivers, near the town of Uzès, to the city of Nîmes. A masterpiece of Roman engineering, the bridge was constructed of cut stones, using neither mortar nor cement. The water pipe, so to speak, measures 1.2 metres wide and 1.6 metres high. The aqueduct crosses the river Gardon, situated at the bottom of a deep valley, and the principle arch that spans the river has an opening of 25.3 metres.
Pont Saint-Bénezet, also known as Pont d’Avignon
Location: Avignon, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France. Crosses: Rhone River
Material and type: Fixed arch bridge, stone, road bridge
Dimensions: spans: 20, measuring 30.8 to 33.5 m each, total length: 900 m
Construction: 1171–1186, disused in 1680
Construction of the Pont Saint-Bénezet, better known as the Pont d’Avignon thanks to the popular song “Sur le Pont d’Avignon”, took place in the 12th century. Tradition attributes the idea for the bridge to a young shepherd named Bénezet, who has been considered a ‘saint’ since the 13th century, although he has never been officially canonised, contrary to the common belief that his canonisation indeed took place under Pope Innocent IV.
Of the nineteen arches that originally formed the bridge, unfortunately only four survive today, creating a particularly bold and picturesque impression. The elegant, exceptional chapel, built at the same time as the bridge between the third arch and the fourth arch, housed the tomb of ‘saint’ Bénezet. However, in the 17th century, due to the deteriorated state of the bridge and the risks of the high water levels of the Rhone, the relics were removed first to a nearby Celestine monastery, then to the collegiate church of St. Didier of Avignon at the end of the 19th century.
Ponte Vecchio
Location: Florence, Tuscany, Italy. Crosses: Arno River
Architect: Taddeo Gaddi or Neri di Fioravanti, according to the source
Material and type: Three arches bridge, in stone, used as a road bridge
Dimensions: longest span: 30 m, length of side spans: 27 m, height of arches: 3.9 to 4.4 m
Construction: 1335–1345
The Ponte Vecchio, originally constructed in wood by the Romans, is the oldest bridge in Florence and one of the oldest in Europe. It was reconstructed in stone in 1345 by Taddeo Gaddi (or Neri di Fioravanti; the identity of the architect is somewhat disputed) and hosted a variety of merchants who sold their goods from tables in front of their shops. This practice still occurs today, only the goods being sold having changed from food to clothing and gold jewellery.
Legend has it that the concept of bankruptcy originated at the Ponte Vecchio. The term was used when a vendor was deeply in debt, and his table (‘banca’) was broken, making it a ‘banca rotta’, broken table. Without a table on which to display his wares, he would be unable to continue his business.
Ponte dei Saraceni
Location: near Adrano, Tuscany, Italy. Crosses: Simeto River
Material and type: Arch bridge, stone. Construction: c. 10th century
Pont Valentré
Location: Cahors, Midi-Pyrénées, France. Crosses: Lot River
Material and type: Fortified arch bridge, stone, used as a road bridge
Dimensions: length: 138 m (6 spans of 16.5 m each), width: 5 m, height of towers: 40 m, height of arch: 8.7 m
Construction: 1308, opened 1350, completed after 1380
The Pont Valentré is one of the most beautiful and complete works inherited from the 14th century. Its construction dates back to 1308. A fortified bridge crossing the Lot River, it connects the walls of Cahors. The city featured three other bridges built in a similar style, but the Pont Valentré remains the best preserved. It is composed of six principle arches, three square towers of three storeys each, containing scalloped staircases, and two small fortresses, one of which has almost disappeared today.
This bridge was nicknamed the ‘Devil’s Bridge’, due to a legend about its origins. According to the tale, the master-builder grew frustrated with delays in the construction and decided to make a pact with the Devil. Satan would help with the completion of the project, according to the architect’s instructions, and take possession of the craftsman’s soul once the work was done. If, however, the Devil failed to accomplish a task set to him by the builder, the pact would be broken.
Nearing the end of the project and in fear for his soul, the builder challenged the Devil to bring water for the last batch of mortar necessary to secure the final stones using nothing more than a sieve. The Devil could not perform the task and lost the bet. Out of revenge, the enraged demon broke stones off the northwest corner of the central tower, which was never completed.
Paul Gout restored the bridge at the end of the 19th century, incorporating an effigy of the Devil onto the tower where stones were still missing.
Ponte Coperto
Location: Pavia, Lombardy, Italy. Crosses: Ticino River
Architects: Jacopo da Cossa and Giovanni da Ferrera
Material and type: Arch bridge, stone and brick
Dimensions: length: 216 m
Construction: 1354, reconstructed in 1949–1951
Originally constructed in 1354 and covered in the following century, the Ponte Coperto (‘covered bridge’) crosses the Ticino River and connects the old centre of Pavia with the Borgo Ticino neighbourhood on the river’s right bank. Unfortunately, the 14th-century structure was irrevocably damaged by Allied bombardments during World War II, and part of it collapsed in 1947. In 1949, the bridge was rebuilt several metres downstream from the medieval structure, but according to the original model. When the water levels of the Ticino River are low, the ruins of the old bridge can still be seen.
Charles Bridge (Karluºv most)
Location: Prague, Czech Republic – Crosses: Vltava River
Architect: Peter Parler – Constructor: “Magister pontis” Jan Ottl
Material and type: Arch bridge, Bohemian