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Origin and history

The Pont de la vallée de Drourier, located in the department of Allier en Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, is a stonework of granite built in the 3rd quarter of the 18th century. It consists of three arches, including a higher power plant, and allows the departmental road D570 to cross the Andan, tributary of the Besbre. This bridge is part of the major modernization of the royal roads under the direction of Daniel-Charles Trudaine, which aimed to correct the routes to make them more direct, "to the Roman". Originally, he was part of the Royal Road from Paris to Lyon by the Bourbonnais, forerunner of the national road 7.

Built between 1752 and 1758, the bridge was designed to facilitate communications in a marked relief area. Its original route, considered too steep, was partially abandoned in the 19th century in favour of a more winding but less abrupt route through Saint-Prix. In 2008, a modern two-lane bypass definitely replaced these old tracks, although the bridge retained its local use. A major restoration campaign was conducted in 2017 to preserve its historical structure.

The bridge was also the scene of a striking episode of insecurity under the Executive Board. On November 29, 1799 (8 year VIII) a band of twenty-five robbers, mainly deserters, robbed the trunk-postal connecting Paris to Lyon near the work. The postillons and the mail were attached to a tree, illustrating the troubles which then stirred the French countryside. This event left a lasting trace in local memory.

On the architectural plane, the bridge is distinguished by its low parapets, underlined by a moulure cornice, and by arc keys decorated on the south side. The upper master arch is flanked by bumpy buttresses, while the abutments and central batteries are reinforced by shouldering. An oval cartridge, perhaps intended to receive coats of arms, adorns the key to the central arch, although this decoration is absent from the north side. These details reflect the attention paid to its construction, typical of 18th century road works.

Ranked a historic monument in 1978, the Pont de la Vallée de Drouterier is now owned by the commune. Although it is no longer a major axis, it bears witness to the road engineering of Ancien Régime and the traffic issues that marked the history of Bourbonnais. Its state of conservation and recent restoration make it a remarkable example of French life heritage.

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