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Origin and history

The Roman bridge of Villeperdrix, located in the municipality of the same name in Drôme (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), probably dates from the 2nd century AD. This ancient work spanned the valley of the creek of the Cross, a tributary of the Eygues, less than 500 metres from their confluence. Today, only the two abutments anchored in the rock, preserved on uneven heights (8.50 m left, 4 m right). Their trimming, consisting of small local rubble and chaining slabs, shows a homogeneous construction, without trace of further repair.

The remains were rediscovered in the middle of the 20th century by local scholar Lucien Van Damme, after being mentioned in 1850 by an engineer as part of road works. The absence of bricks or tiles in the masonry, as well as the regularity of the rectangular harpsichords of the missing vaults, confirm their ancient origin. The lateral foothills lean directly on the natural rock, emphasizing the adaptation of the bridge to its geological environment.

Ranked a historical monument by decree of 19 September 1989, the site illustrates Roman engineering in a mountainous environment. The abutments, without their apron and vault, offer a rare example of an ancient road structure in the region. Their inscription corresponds to their archaeological value, despite their fragmentary state. However, there was no exhaustive search to date their construction precisely, since the second century remained a hypothesis based on regional comparisons.

The bridge is part of a wider Roman network, although its exact route and final destination remain uncertain. Its location, close to the present village but isolated in the gorge, suggests a role of local crossing rather than of large commercial axis. Exclusively local materials (meltons, limestone slabs) indicate utility construction, possibly linked to the exploitation of the surrounding resources (agriculture, mines).

Medieval or modern written sources do not mention the bridge, which explains its progressive oblivion until the 19th century. His rediscovery in the 20th century owes much to the works of André Blanc (1966) and the reports of Adrien Bruhl, who allowed his identification as a Roman work. Today, the site, free of access, attracts lovers of ancient history and Drômois heritage.

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