Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The old bridge over the Selune is an art work built in the 1st quarter of the 17th century, more precisely dated 1613 according to the sources. He crossed the Selune at the border of the municipalities of Ducey-Les Chéris (right bank) and Poilley (left bank) in the department of the Manche, in the Normandy region. This arch bridge was a strategic crossing point for pilgrims travelling to Mont-Saint-Michel, as well as for the transport of goods such as salt and fish, major economic activities of the region at that time.

The monument is characterized by its arch structure and its former adjoining watch post, located in the territory of Poilley. These architectural elements reflect both its utility (circulation) and defensive (flow control) role. The bridge and the watch post were listed as historic monuments by order of 19 August 1975, thereby recognizing their heritage value. Today, the bridge is owned by the Department of the Channel, although its access and current use are not specified in the sources.

The old bridge is part of a historical context marked by the rise of trade and religious movements in Normandy in the seventeenth century. The Selune, a coastal river, served as a natural channel of communication, while Mont-Saint-Michel, geographically close, attracted thousands of pilgrims each year. The transportation of salt, an essential product for food conservation, and fish, an abundant resource on the Normandy coast, made this bridge a key link in local economic networks. Its architecture, typical of the bridges of this period, combines functionality and durability, with materials adapted to the hydrological constraints of the river.

External links