Pont Julien, Roman bridge near Bonnieux, France
Pont Julien is a Roman stone bridge spanning 80 meters across the Calavon River with three limestone arches built in ancient times. Its pillars contain opening passages designed to allow floodwaters to pass through and reduce pressure on the structure during high water.
The bridge was built between 45 and 27 BC and formed part of the Via Domitia road, a major Roman route connecting Italy to Spain. It served as a crucial crossing point as Rome expanded its control throughout Provence.
The bridge displays Roman construction methods using limestone blocks fitted together without mortar, all sourced from the nearby Luberon mountains. Walking across, you can observe the careful craftsmanship and precision stonework that made this structure possible.
The bridge sits roughly 8 kilometers west of Apt and remains open to pedestrians and cyclists. Since a new road crossing was built in 2005, the site has become a popular walking destination rather than a traffic route.
The central arch rests on two pillars anchored directly into bedrock, showing how Romans understood structural stability across changing water levels. This design allowed the bridge to endure for nearly 2000 years despite heavy river stress.
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