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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Roman bridge of Drourier is an ancient building located in the Allier department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. It allows the ancient Roman route from Lyon to Vichy to cross the Andan River. Its structure is characterized by a unique arch on the back of a donkey, without a parapet, typical of the buildings of this time. Although local tradition attributes the Gallo-Roman period, no date archaeological evidence is explicitly mentioned in the available sources.

The building was listed as historic monuments by order of 28 December 1984, thereby recognizing its heritage value. Owned by the commune of Droitrier, it is located on the rural road known as Sans Chagrin. Its state of conservation and current use are not specified, but its inscription suggests a desire for preservation. The sources cited, such as the Gaule Archaeological Map (1989), confirm its historical interest without providing further details on its construction or its possible restaurators.

The bridge is part of a wider Roman network, illustrating the importance of road infrastructure for administration and exchanges in ancient Gaul. These routes linked the main cities and facilitated military, commercial and civilian movements. In Right-Handler, as elsewhere in Auvergne, these works have often survived because of their continued usefulness, even after the fall of the Roman Empire. Their study provides a better understanding of the territorial organisation and construction techniques of the time.

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