Le Pont Vieux (Old Bridge), Carcassonne (must see)

Carcassonne is two cities. There is the Cite and the lower town. The two sections were connected by a bridge divided in two. A stone arch with cutwaters in front and rear marked the boundary between the two factions of Carcassonne. When disagreements became clashes, peace treaties were signed here.

The stone bridge replaced an earlier wooden span that had crossed upstream. The new stone bridge was finished in 1320. There are twelve arches on the bridge. The arches have unequal dimensions. The diameters of the arch openings vary from 33 to 46 feet. The arches were apparently built only as funds appeared, so it took a while to build the bridge

Since 1320 there was little change in the form of the bridge. Two arches collapsed in 1436 and were repaired. Other portions were modified in 1559, but there was no major change until 1820. In 1999 the City of Carcassonne and the Architects at Monuments of France rehabilitated the eastern end of the bridge and the access to Trivalle Street.

The Old Bridge is only for pedestrians. It is 739 feet long. It is closest to the medieval fortified city, a very pleasant walk.