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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Romanesque bridge of Barbaste, located on the Gélise between Barbaste and Nerac (Lot-et-Garonne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine), is part of the history of the Tenarèze, an ancient pre-Roman road linking the Pyrenees to the Garonne. Prior to its construction, the river was probably crossed by a ford. The bridge was mentioned as early as 1259 in a feudal tribute, then in 1271 when the King of France took possession of the Agenas. It then marked the limit of application of the Customs of Agen, inter alia prohibiting the transport of salt beyond its location.

The precise dating of the bridge is a debate: some historians, such as Marcel Prade, place it in the 15th century (poster to the adjacent mill, built at the end of the 13th century), while Jean Mesqui proposes the 16th century. His rustic equipment suggests a utility work. Defenses, including a drawbridge and mâchicoulis, once existed, as evidenced by the archives of 1606. The nearby mill, known as Henry IV mill, was built 20 metres upstream, reinforcing the strategic importance of the site.

Ranked a historic monument in 1960, the bridge consists of ten arches in the middle of the hangar, with batteries with triangular fore-beeks and back-beeks. Its width varies between 3.30 and 6.30 meters. Repairs, especially at the end of the 18th century, allowed its conservation. The site also includes the remains of the towers of Barbaste, a fortified mill that closed the access to the left bank.

The bridge illustrates the key role of medieval infrastructure in controlling trade and local borders. Its history reflects the tensions between feudal powers (counts of Toulouse) and royals (kingdom of France), as well as the adaptation of books to military and economic needs. The seams of Agen and the traces of fortifications underline its importance as a point of rupture between the Agenese and the Gascony.

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