Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Maday Bridge is a roadway near Loubressac, Lot department, Occitanie region. It was originally used to cross the river Bave on the roumiou cami, a former pilgrimage route between Bretenoux and Rocamadour, frequented by the faithful from Clermont-Ferrand and Puy-en-Velay. This bridge is considered the oldest in the region, with a mixed structure reflecting two distinct periods.

One of the three arches, in a broken warhead or arch, probably dates back to the fourteenth century, bearing witness to medieval techniques. The other two arches, of more recent construction, were rebuilt in 1725, as attested by historian Jean Mesqui in his Directory of Road Bridges Prior to 1750. This architectural duality illustrates the successive adaptations of the work to meet the needs of local traffic and pilgrims.

Ranked among the historical monuments since 2 May 1979, the Maday Bridge now belongs to the departmental public domain. Its inscription underlines its heritage importance, both for its historical role in regional travel and for its architectural value. Sources, such as Monumentum and Wikipedia, confirm its status as a key element of the Lotois heritage, linked to both trade and medieval spirituality.

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