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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The old Neuilly-sur-Suize bridge, built in the 2nd quarter of the 19th century, is an architectural testimony of the transition between 18th-century traditions and 19th-century techniques. Its three curved arches, its apron in the back of an ass and its semicircular beaks reflect a careful design, typical of the art works of that time. This bridge replaces an earlier building destroyed by a flood in 1829, illustrating the challenges posed by the whims of the Suize River, which it still spans today.

The reconstruction was entrusted to François Evouloir de Semoutier, an architect whose name remains associated with this monument. The inscription of the bridge in the Historical Monuments Inventory in 1996 underscores its heritage value, both for its aesthetics and for its role in local history. Located between Rue de l'Eglise and CD 143, it is an essential link in the urban fabric of Neuilly-sur-Suize, while recalling the importance of river infrastructure in the development of rural areas in the 19th century.

The choice of a neoclassical architecture, inherited from the 18th century, for a work built in the 1830s reveals a desire for sustainability and prestige. The materials used, mainly the stone, and the shape of the curved arches, were then seen as a guarantee of solidity in the face of the weather. This bridge thus embodies a pivotal period when traditional know-how coexisted with the first industrial innovations, while serving the practical needs of a developing municipality.

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