Roman Bridge, Roman stone bridge in Saint-Thibéry, France.
The Roman Bridge is an ancient stone structure crossing the Hérault River with four surviving arches that were built from locally quarried volcanic stone. The arches are held together with solid mortar that has proven durable across the centuries.
This structure was built during Emperor Augustus's reign in the earliest decades after Christ. It served as part of the Via Domitia, a major road connecting Italy with Spain.
Pilgrims on the route to Santiago de Compostela stopped here to honour the relics of Saints Tiberius, Modest and Florence. The bridge is also called the Roman Bridge, though its present arches are medieval, built between about 1150 and 1250. The name Saint-Thibéry derives from Saint Tiberius, to whom the nearby abbey is dedicated.
The bridge sits in a rural setting where it can be easily reached on foot. Visitors should be prepared for an open and sometimes windy environment, so appropriate clothing is helpful.
The arches of this bridge have an unusually flat ratio between span and height, setting them apart from typical Roman semicircular designs. This design choice allowed for a more graceful appearance while keeping the structure sound.
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