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Origin and history

The Puzin Roman Bridge is a work of art built at the beginning of the second century, located on the territory of the Helvians, near their capital Alba (now Alba-la-Roman). It crossed the Ouvèze at its narrowest point, before its confluence with the Rhône, and was part of the so-called "Antonin le Pieux" route, connecting Nîmes to Clermont via Alba. Its architecture combines a sandstone apparatus for the abutments and an opus vitatum (small limestone moellons linked to lime) for the faces, with traces of ancient restorations.

This bridge, still in use as a public road, illustrates Roman engineering adapted to local geographical constraints. Trade in this mountainous region required robust infrastructure, as evidenced by this unique 14.10 metre arch. It was listed as a historical monument on 30 December 1998 and now belongs to the commune of Pouzin.

Archaeological sources, such as André Blanc's (1966) work, highlight his role in the Gallo-Roman road network. The bridge is kept in its entirety, with sandstone bands overlaid the vaults and massive abutments in large apparatus. Its present state allows to study Roman construction techniques and their local adaptations, including the use of materials available on site (stone, limestone).

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