Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Montferrand Bridge is a medieval building located in Banassac-Canilhac, in the department of Lozère, Occitanie region. Built of cut sandstone, it consists of a large central arch and two smaller lateral arches, one of which was modified in the 19th century for the construction of the Béziers-Neussargues railway. A pile of central arch is reinforced by a breakwater buttress, using a mortar comparable to Roman cement, showing advanced construction techniques for the time.

This bridge was commanded by Pope Lozérien Urban V, a major figure of the 14th century, and was initially used as a passage on the Lot for the road from Auvergne to Rouergue via Mende. Reconstructed in 1691 and repaired in 1721, it is now classified as a Historic Monument since 1935, although its use is now limited to local traffic. Its architecture reflects both its medieval utility and subsequent adaptations, as evidenced by the modification of the western arch.

The location of the bridge, close to the old road to Mende, highlights its historic role in regional exchanges. The mortar used for the foothill, similar to Roman cement, suggests a lasting technical influence, perhaps inherited from the ancient know-how still present in the region. Today, the bridge remains a tangible testimony to medieval engineering and to the transformations that have taken place over the centuries.

The site is owned by the municipality of Banassac-Canilhac and appears in heritage bases such as Mérimée, with a precise location considered "passable" (note 5/10). Although its current use is reduced, its listing as historical monuments makes it a key element of the Lozian heritage, linked to the religious and road history of the region.

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