EURL OZBAT

Good stop for photo and a walk around

Amazing medieval bridge with a great history which is the oldest monument and already existed in Espalion in the 10th century ! But the first written record dates from 1060. That year, the Baron of Calmont granted the Abbey of Conques a share of the toll collected on salt transported from the Mediterranean to the Aubrac region and the Cantal mountains (for cheese production). Espalion would later house the largest salt warehouse in Rouergue during the Middle Ages and under the Ancien Régime. The bridge is at the origin of the town, built around its access road, the straight street "la carrièira drecha". The lord derived financial benefits from it (toll rights and fees from the town's fairs and markets). The bridge appears to date back to the 13th century, as do the two bridges of Entraygues-sur-Truyère downstream. Rebuilt several times, the Gothic structure was initially fortified with three towers housing a guard post, like the Valentré Bridge in Cahors. In the 16th century, during the Wars of Religion, the installation of a drawbridge, replacing the last arch on the right bank, completed this defensive system, which was destroyed at the beginning of the 18th century, the towers demolished, and the drawbridge replaced by a semicircular arch. It also included houses and probably shops, built in a corbelled fashion on either side. These were demolished in 1699, after being purchased by the town. The bridge, built of red sandstone, probably dates from the 13th century. It has a distinctly humpbacked profile and features four arches with a triple molding (three superimposed arches) along their edges: the upper molding, a quarter-round shape, slightly projecting, allowed for the widening of its deck in the 18th century. The vaults form very flattened ribs; the one on the left bank is a semicircular arch. The current structure, built with a humpbacked profile, has four arches on piers with triangular cutwaters at the front and rear, constructed of finely dressed pink

L'un de ces très vieux ponts qui franchissent le Lot et assurément l'un des plus beaux. Ses parties les plus anciennes datent du 13ème siècle. Son reflet dans la rivière est magnifique en toute saison. Il est réservé exclusivement aux piétons. Il constitue l'un des plus intéressants des nombreux attraits architecturaux d'Espalion.

Magnifique pont avec un histoire Exclusivement piétons qui sert a passé de la rive de gauche a droites Fait partie du petit circuit de visite de la ville

Très joli pont

Très joli pont reliant 2 rives de la ville.

Très beau pont, magnifique avec de belles vues sur les anciennes constructions.

Très jolie pont.