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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The bridge of the Moulin du Pont, located on the Tardoire at the boundary of the communes of Saint-Mathieu and Saint-Bazile, is a work prior to the seventeenth century. It was originally associated with a mill now gone, and served as a passage through the old road between Rochechouart and Saint-Mathieu. Its structure consists of two full arches slightly low, built of flat stones, resting on a central pile equipped with a triangular fore-beek in large apparatus. This bridge, once equipped with parapets of which only a few remains, illustrates medieval construction techniques adapted to river crossings.

The bridge of the Moulin du Pont is now owned by the commune. Although its state of conservation and its exact location are considered to be poor (precision of location noted 5/10), it bears witness to the road and architectural heritage of Haute-Vienne. Its listing in the Inventory of Historic Monuments highlights its historical importance, particularly as a vestige of an ancient old network linking major localities in the region.

The Haute-Vienne region, now part of New Aquitaine, was historically marked by agricultural, artisanal activities and a network of communication channels essential to local commerce. Bridges, such as the Moulin du Pont, played a key role in exchanges between towns and villages, facilitating the movement of people, goods and herds. Their construction often reflected local know-how, combining robustness and simplicity to withstand flooding and time wear.

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