Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The so-called "Roman de Pourcieux" bridge is a masonry building located at the edge of the communes of Pourcieux and Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, in the Var. It crosses a stream along the route of the ancient Via Aurelia, Roman way between Fréjus and Aix-en-Provence. Although its name evokes an ancient origin, the available sources do not specify its exact date of construction or its detailed initial use.

Ranked as Historic Monuments by Order of March 8, 1943, this bridge was updated in February 2025. Today, it is under a portion of the RN7 departmental road, illustrating the superimposition of modern infrastructure on historical remains. Its classification specifically concerns elements shared with the neighbouring commune of Pourcieux.

Via Aurelia, on which this bridge probably depended, played a key role in the exchanges between the Roman cities of Forum Julii (Fréjus) and Aquae Sextiae (Aix). These routes structured the territory, facilitating military, commercial and administrative travel. The bridge, albeit a modest one, bears witness to this sustainable engineering, still visible despite subsequent road developments.

The available data do not mention any sponsor, architect or specific historical events related to this monument. Its current state and accessibility are not detailed, although it is located approximately via GPS coordinates (estimated accuracy at 5/10).

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