Post-crude repairs 1508 (≈ 1508)
Date engraved on the left abutment.
1612
Construction or major repairs
Construction or major repairs 1612 (≈ 1612)
Year engraved on a central pile.
1706
Almost destructive crude
Almost destructive crude 1706 (≈ 1706)
Reaching the top of the central arch.
1825-1826
Crude damage to the bridge
Crude damage to the bridge 1825-1826 (≈ 1826)
Partial damage requiring repairs.
1828
Post flood restoration
Post flood restoration 1828 (≈ 1828)
Work after the floods of 1825-1826.
1844
New repair work
New repair work 1844 (≈ 1844)
Consolidation of the existing structure.
1930
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 1930 (≈ 1930)
Official protection by ministerial decree.
1971
Total collapse and restoration
Total collapse and restoration 1971 (≈ 1971)
Reconstructed northern parapet and apron.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Bridge (ruins): by order of 12 November 1930
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character cited
The source text does not mention any historical actors.
Origin and history
The bridge over the Dore, located between Olliergues and Saint-Gervais-sous-Meymont, officially dates from 1612, as evidenced by an inscription engraved on one of its batteries. Built in rubble with a stone trim, it consists of three uneven arches supporting a donkey back apron. The fore-beeks on upstream piles suggest a design adapted to frequent river floods. Although its origin may date back to the 14th or 15th centuries, no source mentions it until the 17th century, leaving a doubt about its exact date of construction.
The dates of 1508 and 1612, engraved on the downstream abutment, probably correspond to repairs after devastating floods. In 1706 a flood almost reached the top of the central arch without causing major damage, but the floods of 1825 and 1826 partially damaged the structure. Work was undertaken in 1828 and 1844 to consolidate it. In 1971, the collapse of the parapet and apron on the north side required complete restoration, thus preserving this architectural testimony.
Ranked Historic Monument in 1930, the bridge illustrates the challenges posed by the whims of the Dore, a river with recurrent floods. Its location at the communal limit of Olliergues and Saint-Gervais-sous-Meymont makes it a shared heritage element. The materials used, such as the Dore pebbles for the apron, reflect adaptation to local resources and geographical constraints.
Today, the ruins of the bridge recall the ingenuity of the builders in the face of natural hazards, as well as the importance of art works in the history of regional exchanges. Its current state, though partial, allows us to study construction techniques and flood resistance strategies over centuries.
