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Origin and history

The Saint-Goustan Bridge is an emblematic work of the city of Auray, in the Morbihan. Built probably around 1464, it replaces a first bridge established in 1295 by Duke John II. This vaulted bridge, 35 metres long and 10.65 metres wide, consists of four arches in basket cove separated by fore-becs. It connects the city centre to the neighborhood and port of Saint-Goustan, crossing the Auray River.

The bridge has undergone numerous restorations over the centuries due to tidal and current damage. The main construction campaigns date from 1608, 1623-1624 (pavement), 1665, 1752 (by Michel Gallen), and 1982. It is registered as a historical monument by order of 13 April 1944. Its architecture, with its arches and avant-becs, makes it a typical example of medieval bridges adapted to maritime constraints.

Emblem of the city, the bridge inspired artists like Mathurin Méheut in the 1930s. In 1988, the silhouette of the bridge was even incorporated into Auray's official logo, highlighting its cultural and heritage importance. Today, it remains a central element of the urban landscape and a testimony to the maritime history of the region.

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