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Origin and history

The bridge of Lavoûte-Chilhac is a stone work located in the village of Lavoûte-Chilhac, in the Haute-Loire, allowing to cross the Allier. Probably dating from the 15th century, it is characterized by its four arches in the middle of the hanger and its triangular foreks. This bridge, similar to that of the Chartreuse, served as a passage on the main road linking Lyon to Toulouse, in particular facilitating access to the local Benedictine priory.

In the 18th century, the bridge underwent several major repairs. In 1707 and 1732 work was undertaken, including the reconstruction of a pile destroyed by a flood in November 1732. In 1772, other repairs were made. In 1889, the bridge was extended by corbellations, and its masonry parapets were replaced by metal guardrails. The statue of Notre-Dame-du-Pont, originally located in a chapel on the bridge, was then moved to the prioral church.

The bridge was listed as historic monuments on 27 February 1926. Its arches have varying ranges (13.60 m, 25.00 m, 18.00 m and 11.40 m), and its batteries are about 4 metres thick. Its architecture, especially the exceptional shape of its beaks, makes its precise dating uncertain, although the 15th century remains the most probable hypothesis.

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