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Origin and history

The "old bridge" of Pont-sur-Yonne is a classic stone bridge built between 1684 and 1700 during the reign of Louis XIV. Designed by the architect Liberal Bruant, it was originally composed of eight to nine arches (five between the left bank and the island, three or four between the island and the right bank). Its construction spanned 16 years, but successive collapses and reshuffles reduced the structure to three arches still visible today. The arches on the right bank collapsed in 1738, replaced by two new ones.

In the 19th century, the bridge suffered major damage: in 1814, during the French countryside, an arch was destroyed by the French military genius. Later, during World War II, the fourth arch (from the left bank) jumped in 1940 to slow the German advance. Between 1942 and 1946, the bridge was gradually demolished after the inauguration of a new metal bridge in 1941, making the old one obsolete. Only remains remain, protected since 1997 by an inscription in the Historical Monuments.

In 2021, the municipality received a €79 000 grant from the Heritage Foundation to restore the remains of the bridge. The work included structural reinforcement, installation of a wooden and metal pontoon and lighting of the structure. This project aimed to preserve this testimony of local history, linked to the development of the village and the conflicts that have affected the region.

The bridge illustrates the construction techniques of the 17th century, but also the strategic stakes of Pont-sur-Yonne, located on the Yonne, a major route of communication. Its architecture, though fragmentary, reflects the influence of Liberal Bruant, known for his achievements under Louis XIV. The successive destructions (wars, modernization) highlight the tensions between heritage and progress, a recurring theme in the history of French art works.

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