Historical Monument 8 mars 1943 (≈ 1943)
First bridge protection order.
23 février 2025
Change in classification
Change in classification 23 février 2025 (≈ 2025)
Amendment of the legal status.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The Roman bridge, under a portion of road D N7, public domain on cadastre, located at the junction of sections AE, AD and 0A, appearing in the cadastre of the commune, as colored in red on the plan annexed to the decree: classification by decree of 8 March 1943 modified by the order of classification of 23 February 2025
Origin and history
The so-called "Pourcieux Roman Bridge" is a masonry structure located at the boundary of the communes of Pourcieux and Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, in the Var. It crosses a stream along the route of the ancient Via Aurelia, a major Roman road linking Fréjus (Forum Julii) to Aix-en-Provence (Aquae Sextiae). This bridge illustrates Roman engineering in Provence, designed to facilitate military and commercial exchanges in the region.
Ranked as Historic Monuments since March 8, 1943, the bridge was given its legal status by an amending order in February 2025. Today, it is located under a portion of the D N7 (ex-RN7) departmental road, which reflects the superimposition of modern infrastructure on ancient remains. Although its exact dating is not mentioned in the sources, its association with Via Aurelia suggests an origin linked to the Romanization of Provence, between the first century BC and the third century BC.
The monument now belongs to the departmental property. Its classification specifically protects the structure located at the junction of the AE, AD and 0A cadastral sections, as indicated in the archives of the Merimée base. The approximate location (estimated at 5/10) and its integration into the current road landscape highlight the challenges of preserving ancient remains in a modern urban context.
