Langlois Bridge, Wooden drawbridge near Arles, France
The Langlois Bridge is a drawbridge spanning the canal that connects Arles to Port-de-Bouc in southern France. Its double-beam lifting mechanism allows vessels to pass through while cars and pedestrians use the roadway above.
The original bridge was built in the early 1800s as one of eleven structures along the canal. After its destruction in World War II and subsequent demolition, the current version was reconstructed to honor van Gogh's famous paintings.
Vincent van Gogh painted this bridge multiple times in 1888, applying Japanese artistic techniques with bright colors to capture its appearance. His works reveal how the structure and canal light captivated his artistic vision.
The bridge is open to vehicles and pedestrians and offers good views of the canal from multiple angles. Visitors should be aware that passage may be temporarily restricted when vessels are passing through underneath.
The original wooden structure was replaced with a concrete version in the 1930s, but that too was destroyed during World War II and had to be rebuilt. The current reconstruction was based on historical records and van Gogh's own paintings as reference guides.
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