Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Montifort Bridge, located in Lodève in the Hérault department, is a 16th-century masonry work. He crossed the Soulondre, a tributary of the Lergue, with a large main arch and a small secondary arch later added. Its archaic appearance, marked by a very pronounced donkey back and narrow path, suggests a construction prior to the 17th century regulations. The small arch in the middle of the hang, probably added after the flood of 1745, is intended to relieve the thrust of the waters on the northern abutment.

The structure of the bridge is entirely made of apparatus stone for the vault, while the sides of the walls and piles are lined with rubble and pebbles. The single spur, on the upstream side, and the accentuated lateral slopes extended by gentle slope access roads, demonstrate a design adapted to local hydraulic stresses. The parapets have undergone modern repairs, but most of the work retains its original characteristics.

The Montifort Bridge has been listed as historic monuments since May 12, 1964. It derives its name from a neighboring suburb, Montifort, where mills or drapers were probably grouped together, reflecting Lodève's economic activity in modern times. The main vault, made of apparatus stone, contrasts with the smaller sandstone arch, more yellowish and less resistant, added for functional reasons after 1745.

External links