Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Bounery Bridge is a medieval arched structure that spans the river Ance, between the communes of Saint-André-de-Chalencon and Tirenges, Haute-Loire. Originally built to serve the castle of Chalencon, it is distinguished by its arch in the middle of the hanger and the absence of avant-becs, technical features that give it a look both robust and slender. A second arch, now blocked, suggests further modifications.

According to some sources, however, its present state seems to indicate a post-15th century construction, making it after the nearby Devil's Bridge. This bridge played a strategic role in connecting two territories, facilitating exchanges between the medieval town of Chalencon and Tirenges. Its apron, lightly dorsal, peaks at 15.20 meters above the Ance, with a main arch of 18 meters opening.

Ranked a historic monument on September 23, 1949, the Bounery Bridge illustrates medieval engineering adapted to the geographical and military constraints of the region. Its massive structure, designed to withstand the floods of thence, also reflects local construction techniques. Today, communal property, there remains a testimony of architectural history and communication networks in Auvergne in the Middle Ages.

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