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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Old Bridge sur la Côle, located in Saint-Jean-de-Côle (Dordogne), is a 12th century medieval work. This bridge in the back of a donkey, with sharp fore-beeks and three arches in the middle of a hanger, crosses the river upstream of the bief, once feeding the mill of the former abbey. Its parapets were later rebuilt, but its original structure remains, illustrating the civil architecture of the time.

Ranked a Historic Monument by order of July 16, 1925, the bridge is now owned by the commune. It bears witness to the importance of hydraulic and road infrastructures in the medieval economic organization, especially around the abbeys. Its strategic location, near an abbey mill, highlights its role in local trade and water resource management.

The location of the bridge, noted as "very satisfactory" (level 8/10), is documented by GPS coordinates pointing towards Place du Vieux Pont in Saint-Jean-de-Côle. A photo licensed under Creative Commons, credited to Father Igor, attests to his current condition. Although the sources mention its openness to the visit, no practical details are specified in the available data.

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