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Origin and history

The bridge over the Cure, also known as the "bridge of Ternos", is an emblematic work located in Pierre-Perthuis, Yonne department. It spans the Cure River at the narrowest point of its course, near the village. Its structure on the back of a donkey, its original cobblestones and its still visible wheel-hunters testify to a careful construction, typical of old bridges. Although its exact date of construction remains uncertain, some historians such as Marin and Piquard-Péguet place it around 1770, while others evoke an older origin, sometimes attributed to Vauban, without definitive proof.

Ranked as historic monuments by order of 9 May 1921, the bridge was restored in 1925 to preserve its state. Its picturesque character and authenticity have made it a popular place, especially as a cinematic decor: it appears in Gérard Oury's La Grande Vadrouille (1966). Today, owned by the municipality of Pierre-Perthuis, it remains a symbol of local heritage, mixing history, architecture and popular culture.

The Yonne region, in Burgundy-Franche-Comté, was historically a crossroads of trade and river transport. Bridges played a crucial role in connecting villages and facilitating exchanges, especially in rugged areas such as the Cure valleys. This type of work, often built of stone, also reflected local engineering know-how, adapted to the geographical constraints and needs of rural or artisanal communities.

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