Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Bassanne Bridge is a medieval building in Pondaurat, Gironde, built between the 13th and 14th centuries. It crosses the Bassanne River in the heart of the village and consists of four arches in the middle of the hangar. Its aprons, paved and equipped with a groove to guide the carts, testify to its historical use as a major traffic axis, probably linked to the pilgrimage routes to Compostela.

The bridge is associated with the history of the monastery-hospital of Pondaurat, founded by the order of St.Antoine in the 13th century. This convent, placed on a compostellan route, was set on fire in 1577 by the Huguenots and then reworked in the 17th to 18th centuries. The dam bridge, adjacent to a mill, had to be equipped with a door to control access. Joined historic monuments in 1990, it now belongs to the commune.

The structure reflects medieval construction techniques, with arches in the middle of the circle typical of the era. Its inscription as a historic monument underlines its heritage importance, both for its architecture and for its role in local history, in particular in connection with pilgrimages and economic activities (moulin, guidance of carts).

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