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Origin and history

The Devil's Bridge, or Herault Bridge, is a medieval Romanesque building located between the communes of Saint-Jean-de-Fos and Aniane, in the Hérault department. Built in the early 11th century (between 1025 and 1031) by the Abbeys of Aniane and Gellone, it crossed the end of the gorges of the Hérault. With a length of 65 meters, it consists of two Romanesque arches and two ears, with trimmings in small regular apparatus. Originally intended to connect the two abbeys, it was expanded around 1770 upstream and raised. Disused in 1932, it is now reserved for pedestrians and classified as historical monuments since 1935.

According to the cartular of Gellone and the research of the University of Montpellier, its construction would result from an agreement between the abbots of Aniane and Gellone around 873 (IXth century), although later sources, such as the act published by Victor Mortet, date its writing between 1036 and 1048. This act stipulated that each abbey would build half of the bridge, without fortification or church, and without toll. The bridge is also linked to a medieval legend (circa 1160) attributing its construction to William of Orange and evoking a pact with the devil, hence its name.

The Devil's Bridge has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998, as part of the Santiago de Compostela routes in France. Close to the caves of Clamouse and the medieval village of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, it remains a symbol of the Languedoc Romanesque heritage. Despite its ranking, the site is marked by frequent jumping accidents since the construction, leading to the installation of an emergency post in 2008.

Architecturally, the bridge illustrates the first Languedoc Romanesque art, with its arches in the middle and its regular apparatus. It was enlarged at the end of the 18th century to meet traffic requirements, before being replaced by a nearby road bridge in the 20th century. Today, he embodies both a monastic heritage, a medieval technical feat and a place full of legends, while remaining an emblematic crossing point of the gorges of L'Hérault.

Future

The Pont du Diable de Saint-Jean-de-Fos is one of the 71 monuments and 7 portions of paths have been listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1998 under the official title of "Chemins de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle en France".

It is on the way to Via Tolosana or "Toulousaine Way" which passes through Toulouse, hence its name, but its starting point is at Arles from where its other name of road to Arles (via Arelatensis).

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