Roman bridge in Maastricht, Roman bridge remains near Sint Servaasbrug, Netherlands
The Roman bridge in Maastricht was a wooden structure built to cross the Meuse River at a natural ford, linking the busy trade route between the northern lands and the Rhine region. The bridge piers were rebuilt multiple times to withstand the river's force and shifting channels.
The bridge was first built around 50 CE as part of the Via Belgica, a major Roman route connecting military outposts and trading centers across the region. The structure was modified and strengthened over centuries before eventually falling into disuse.
The crossing point represented a place where traders and travelers from distant lands met, shaping how people understood their position in the wider world. This meeting place became woven into local stories and identity over centuries.
The bridge remains lie underwater in the Meuse River, just south of the present-day Sint Servaasbrug, making them invisible from the surface. To learn more about the site, you can visit the Museum Derlon, which displays archaeological finds and information about the Roman road.
The wooden pilings of the original bridge were driven deep into the riverbed under changing water conditions and have been partially preserved by the constant moisture. These conserved wooden remains provide archaeologists with valuable insights into Roman construction techniques and water levels from nearly 2000 years ago.
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