Site officiel de la ville et de la Communauté d'Agglomération du Carcassonnais
Dates for your diary
Help - Links
Version française
Versión española
Deutsche fassung
Nederlandstalige versie
)
The stone bridge that replaced the medieval structure previously built upstream, where the roman bridge lay, dates back to the early 14th century. Work was already underway in 1315, and was probably completed no earlier than 1320. A special tax was evied to cover the expense.
The twelve, full-centre arches of the Carcassonne bridge have opening diameters of unequal lengths ranging from 10 to 14 metres. This is evidence that the work was completed arch after arch, depending on the resources. (2)
)
« The bridge was divided in two by a stone arch based on an upstream and downstream cutwater, which marked the limit between the two communities of the Cité and the Lower Town. In this spot were signed peace treaties following internal divisions which often stirred the population of both towns of Carcassonne.
The appearance of the bridge changed only after 1820. In those days, some fine railings were still visible there, flanked with two elegant sidewalks. We know for a fact that two arches collapsed in 1436, but in addition to repairs performed then, several other sections were reworked in 1559 and even later, without the bridge being deprived, however, of its primitive appearance. It was the restoration of 1820 that most altered its former shape. » (1).
« It was originally defended on the left bank by a huge headblock which surrounded nearly all of today's suburb. On the Cité side, it was connected to the fortress defences through a line of flanked curtain walls. » (1)
In 1999, a study was conducted by the Town of Carcassonne and the Architect from the Monuments de France in connection with the French public services. A project to rehabilitate the eastern end of the Old Bridge and the entry to the rue Trivalle was elaborated.
The ramp, once remodeled will clear the magnificent façade of the old cloth mill which became a royal factory in 1696.
The 13th arch located east of the bridge has been cleared; the ramp between rue de la Barbacane and rue Trivalle, as well as the area between the front of the buildings and the garden of Pierre et Maria Sire have been surfaced and graded, thus clearing the ground for an esplanade used as a car-park in the shade of freshly planted plane trees.
« When you enter the bridge, the chapel of Notre-Dame de la Santé (Our Lady of Good Health), is the only remaining trace of the Town's oldest hospital. Although restored on the outside and reworked on the inside, it remains a fine specimen of 15th century architecture » (3)
(1) J.P. Cros-Mayrevieille – Les monuments de Carcassonne
(2) La Cité de Carcassonne – History and description by Joseph Poux – Volume 1
(3) René Descadeillas – Carcassonne – Editions SAEP Colmar-Ingersheim.
Site Officiel de l'Office de Tourisme et de la ville de Carcassonne - www.carcassonne.org