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Origin and history

The Saint-Roch Bridge is an art building located in Colmars, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Built above the Verdon, this segmentary arched bridge, made of cut stone and rubble, has stylistic features suggesting dating between the 17th and 18th centuries. Its unique rank of irregularly extra-backed locks and its bolt holes visible at the birth of the vault testify to traditional construction techniques. Disused in 1894 after the construction of a new downstream structure, there remains a remarkable example of the architecture of the area's old bridges.

The documented history of the Saint-Roch Bridge is limited, but its existence is attested by the end of the seventeenth century, as evidenced by the plans of the fortifications of Colmars of that time. In the 19th century, modifications were made, including the addition of two wings supported by discharge arches on the downstream face, absent on the Napoleonic cadastre of 1827. These adjustments reflect an adaptation of the structure to changing needs, prior to its official decommissioning in 1894. Joined historic monuments on December 8, 1927, it today illustrates the technical and architectural heritage of Haute-Provence, preserved despite its decommissioning.

The dimensions of the bridge — 18.10 m long, 2.60 m to 3.60 m wide (depending on the sources), and an arch of 15.90 m open for 5.25 m to 6.50 m high — make it a compact yet robust model, typical of rural mountain bridges. Its inscription in the title of historical monuments underscores its heritage value, both for its aesthetics and for the construction techniques it embodies. The bibliographical references, such as the works of Marcel Prade or Philippe Auran, confirm his interest in the study of the historical bridges of the region.

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