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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The old Pavie bridge, built in the 4th quarter of the 13th century, spans the Gers near the bastide of the same name, towards Pessan. Built in stone with three arch spans, including a larger power plant, it is reinforced by spurs upstream and downstream. Too narrow for modern vehicles, it remains borrowed by a communal way, although prohibited by heavy goods vehicles. Its origin is probably linked to the foundation of the Pavia bastide, approved by Philippe le Hardi in 1285, and it would have functioned as a toll bridge until the 17th century.

The bridge has suffered several destructions and reconstructions over the centuries. In the 17th century, reparations were attested by notarial acts. One of its broken arches is turned into a low arch (probably in the 18th or 19th centuries), which delayed its protection: a first request for classification in 1930 was refused. Thanks to the intervention of Count Dillon, Mayor of Pavia, a new demand culminated in his classification to historical monuments on 19 February 1941. Restorations took place in 1957, in the 1970s-1980s, especially on the parapets and a pile.

Contemporary to the bastide, the bridge illustrates medieval utilitarian architecture: its three arches (including a 6-metre master arch) and triangular refuges above the piles reflect the techniques of the era. The materials, of limestone of medium apparatus, and the presence of a donkey back typical of old bridges, underline its historical role as the only access to Pavie from Pessan. Its parapet, supported by ravens, and the modern expansion of its entrance (north side) for automobiles testify to its adaptation to contemporary needs.

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