Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The old bridge over the Dropt, located between La Sauvetat-du-Dropt and Agnac en Lot-et-Garonne, is a 13th century medieval building. Composed of 24 arches, it is divided into two parts: a series of arches in the middle of a hanger crossing a meadow that was once floodable, and arches in broken arches forming a weir dam to supply a mill still visible. A stone cross, lost in the 1960s during a flood, once marked the passage of the pilgrims of Santiago de Compostela, the bridge being located on a road leading to this holy place.

In the 19th century, an arch was replaced by a bridge to facilitate the passage of a lock, made necessary when the Dropt became navigable between Eymet and Labarthe. The deck piles, with beaks facing upstream, demonstrate flood-friendly construction techniques. The adjacent mill, still present, was powered by the dam system built into the bridge. This work, linked to the extension of the village in the 13th century, also reflects the historical presence of a Templar Commandery in La Sauvetat-du-Dropt.

Ranked a historic monument on January 30, 1992, the bridge was restored in 2014 to modernize its security barriers. Owned by the commune, it illustrates both medieval engineering, the history of pilgrimages and the adaptation of river infrastructures to local economic needs, such as navigation and milling. Its architecture and multifunctional role make it a rare testimony to regional history.

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