Pont des Minimes, Road bridge in Chartres, France.
Pont des Minimes is a stone bridge that crosses the Eure River and connects both sides of the lower city with three separate arches of varying sizes. The structure links directly to rue de la Corroirie, where the former convent entrance can still be seen.
The name comes from a religious order whose convent occupied the area starting in the 17th century until the French Revolution disrupted the monastery. The bridge was briefly renamed during that period to reflect the changing times.
The bridge marks where Chartres once had a working port basin that handled water-based trade and commerce. This waterfront district shaped how the lower city developed and was used by its inhabitants over time.
The bridge provides an important crossing point in the lower section of town and leads directly to rue de la Corroirie. Visitors will find it helpful to explore the surrounding area to understand the connection between this structure and the former monastic buildings.
During World War II in 1944, this bridge was among the few structures in Chartres that German forces targeted for destruction during their retreat. Yet it survived the damage attempts and stands today as a reminder of the city's turbulent wartime experience.
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