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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Pont des Arvaux is a medieval aqueduct bridge located in Noron-sous-Gevrey, in the Côte-d'Or department. Built between 1212 and 1221 by the monks of the abbey of Cîteaux, it was intended to divert the waters of the Sansfond, a stream then flowing into the Varaude, to feed the abbey with water. This ambitious hydraulic project, including a ten-kilometre canal, ensured a steady flow of 320 litres per second, essential for monastic needs.

The monks, initially settled near the Ru du Coindon, had to move to the Vouge because of the lack of water resources. The bridge of the Arvals, badly damaged by the centuries, was rebuilt identically in 1746. It testifies to Cistercian hydraulic ingenuity and technical mastery to meet the logistical challenges of the time.

Ranked a historic monument since 14 March 1991, the bridge illustrates both the medieval heritage and the 18th century know-how. Today, there remains a remarkable example of monastic utility architecture, still visible in the landscape of Burgundy-Franche-Comté. Its history is closely linked to that of the Abbey of Cîteaux, a major spiritual and technical centre in the Middle Ages.

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