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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The old bridge over the Flume de Pacé is a medieval building in the municipality of Pacé, Ille-et-Vilaine (Bretagne). Built probably in the 13th or 14th century, it is one of the few examples of medieval bridges still visible in the region. Originally, the bridges of that time were often made of wood, but the latter, made of stone, underwent continuous modifications from the 16th century, including with various materials such as shale, limestone and granite.

This road bridge, 45 metres long, consists of three arches: two twins in the centre and a third separated by a full ground. He crossed the Flume River and historically linked the road from Paris to Brest. Unlike other departmental bridges such as Pont-Réan (built in 1767 by engineers trained at the École des Ponts et Chaussées), the Pont de Pacé is the result of an empirical evolution, reflecting local and successive construction techniques.

The monument was listed as historic monuments on April 29, 1971, recognizing its heritage value. It now belongs to the department and remains a testimony of medieval infrastructures adapted to the subsequent road needs. Its approaches, built along the Flume, highlight its integration into the local landscape.

The bridge is located at the place known as the Pont de Pacé, west of the village, between Rue Doctor Léon and Avenue Étienne and Mathilde Pinault. Its mixed equipment (meltons, cutting stone) and its stone spurs illustrate pre-industrial construction methods. Although modified over the centuries, it retains medieval features, such as the absence of a standardized plan, typical of achievements prior to modern engineering.

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