Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The bridge of Gueydan, located in Saint-Benoît in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, allowed to cross the Var at its confluence with the Coulomp. A first bridge, probably built in modern times, had a unique arch in the middle of the hanger about 25 meters, with a regular limestone apparatus. Its light-backed donkey profile and its two-row structure suggest a careful construction technique, although its absence of archives makes its precise dating impossible.

In the 19th century, a second bridge was built nearby to widen the passageway and allow for taxiing, leading to the gradual abandonment of the old. In February 1944, in the face of its disrepair, the original bridge was classified as a historic monument, but the two works were destroyed a few months later during World War II. Only the abutments and remains of the arches survived.

A new masonry bridge, with an opening of 37 meters, was rebuilt in 1949. Its apron rests on an arch supported by elegative vaults, marking a technical evolution compared to previous structures. Today, only the remains of the abutments and the departure of the destroyed arches recall the complex history of this site, showing successive adaptations to traffic needs and historical hazards.

Available sources, including early twentieth century postcards, evoke a robust bridge, characteristic of the achievements of the modern epoch. The 19th century work, with its unique segmental arch, contrasted with the curved shape of the ancient bridge. Their simultaneous destruction in 1944 and their replacement by the current bridge illustrate the upheavals associated with war and post-conflict reconstruction needs.

The site, located on National Road 202, remains a strategic crossing point between Saint-Benoît and Entrevaux. Owned by the commune, it is today an architectural testimony of the construction techniques of bridges in Haute-Provence, from the Ancien Régime to the contemporary period.

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