Construction begins 1490 (≈ 1490)
Initiated by Bishop François d'Estaing.
1524
Blessing of the oratory
Blessing of the oratory 1524 (≈ 1524)
By François d'Estaing at the Cap del Pònt.
début XVIe siècle
Completion of the bridge
Completion of the bridge début XVIe siècle (≈ 1604)
Completion of work started in 1490.
1727
Dedication of the chapel
Dedication of the chapel 1727 (≈ 1727)
To Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs.
1866
Statue of François d'Estaing
Statue of François d'Estaing 1866 (≈ 1866)
Sculpted by François Mahoux on the pile.
1960
Installation of the cast iron cross
Installation of the cast iron cross 1960 (≈ 1960)
Copy of a 19th century model.
1998
UNESCO classification
UNESCO classification 1998 (≈ 1998)
World Heritage (Compostela Roads).
2005
Registration MH
Registration MH 2005 (≈ 2005)
Protection for historical monuments.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The bridge with its cross and statue of François d'Estaing (cad. non-cadastre, public domain; Estaing: at the boundary of Parcel AB 46; Sebrazac : at the edge of Parcel AB 49): inscription by order of 29 September 2005
Key figures
François d'Estaing - Bishop of Rodez
Initiator of construction in 1490.
François Mahoux - Sculptor
Author of the statue (1866).
Henri Lesieur - Ferronier/Bierier
Inspired by the 19th century cross.
Origin and history
The Estaing Bridge is a Gothic building built between 1490 and the first quarter of the sixteenth century by the inhabitants of Estaing, under the impulse of Bishop François d'Estaing. It crosses the Lot between the municipalities of Estaing (right bank) and Sébrazac (left bank), in the northeast of Aveyron. Built in shale with a limestone crowning, it consists of four double-rolled Gothic arches, protected by triangular beaks upstream and rectangular downstream.
Upon his completion, Bishop François d'Estaing blessed in 1524 the oratory of Cap del Pònt, later replaced by a chapel dedicated in 1727 to Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs. The central pile of the bridge supports two remarkable elements: a statue of the bishop, carved in 1866 by François Mahoux after a portrait preserved at Rodez, and a cast iron cross installed in 1960, a copy of a 19th century model. The old cross was moved to the intersection of the Annat and Nayrac roads.
The bridge, registered as a historic monument in 2005, has also been part of UNESCO's World Heritage site since 1998, as a stage on Santiago de Compostela's roads. Today it supports the departmental road 22 and marks the passage of the GR 6 and GR 65 (via Podiensis). Its architecture thus blends medieval heritage and 19th century additions, testifying to its historical and religious role.
The sources mention two artisans linked to his beautifications: the sculptor François Mahoux, author of the bishop's statue in 1866, and the anonymous Parisian ironmaker of the 1960 cross, inspired by an earlier model that also inspired jeweler Henri Lesieur in 1958. The property of the bridge belongs to the department of Aveyron, and its state of conservation is considered satisfactory (note 8/10 according to Monumentum).
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Future
The Pont dit d'Estaing is one of the 71 monuments as well as 7 portions of paths are inscribed since 1998 on the UNESCO World Heritage List under the official title of "Chemins de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle in France".
It is on the way to Via Podiensis, or "Voy du Puy", from Puy-en-Velay to the Basque village of Ostabat, where it joins via Turonensis and via Lemovicensis gathered shortly before.
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