Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Canaù Water Bridge is an exceptional structure of the Saint-Julien Canal, designed to cross the Coulon River near Cavaillon (Vaucluse). From the second half of the 16th century, its stone structure, attributed to Adam de Craponne, was perhaps inspired by a Leonardo da Vinci project for a bridge at Constantinople (1502). The structure is distinguished by two diverging arches anchored on the banks, formerly supporting a hanging wooden pipe, replaced in 1921 by a subfluvial siphon. Its design, unique in Europe, prefigures English bowlstring bridges, although its physical principle differs.

Originally built to irrigate the lands of the Marquis of Forbin d-Oppède, the bridge-aqueduct responded to a 1543 authorization granted by Bishop Pierre Ghinucci, allowing to drift the waters of the canal towards the plain of the Plan. Funded by Jean Meynier, the work combined Taillades stone and an oak/melèze formwork, designed to withstand the frequent floods of Coulon. The wooden pipe, often obstructed, was abandoned to a siphon after 1921, while the 8-metre high stone structure survived major flooding, such as that of 1994 where it was completely submerged.

Ranked a historic monument on 18 August 2011, the bridge-aqueduct has benefited from major restorations, including a relief bay added in 2012 for 2 million euros, and a renovation in 2024 (450,000 €, partially financed by the Heritage Lotto). According to experts, its design would be "probably unique in the world", highlighting its key role in the history of Provencal hydraulics. Today, only the stone arches and the apron are visible, evidence of ingenious medieval and Renaissance know-how.

The Saint-Julien Canal, attested from the 12th century, was originally an irrigation and feeding system for an episcopal mill. In the 16th century, its extension to the Plan plain required this water bridge, a symbol of the region's hydraulic innovation. The structure, owned by a communal public institution, remains a rare example of a double arched bridge, combining aesthetics and functionality. Its preservation illustrates the importance of technical heritage in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.

Historical sources mention regular renovations, such as that of 1728 by Father Esprit-Joseph Brun and his son-in-law. In 1921, the original pipe, suspended under the bridge, was replaced by a buried siphon to avoid the plugs caused by the floods. In spite of these adaptations, the original stone structure resisted centuries, including during the "spectacular" flood of 1994. Today, the site, located in the Entre-Deux-Vallats district, attracts for its technical, historical and landscape character.

External links