Pont Joubert, Medieval stone bridge in Poitiers, France.
Pont Joubert is a light gray stone bridge crossing the Clain in a single horizontal span. Five arches are visible beneath the deck: the central arches are rounded, while a pointed arch sits at each end. A low parapet wall of the same stone runs along the top, and darker weathered patches mark the stonework above the piers and around the arch edges.
Pont Joubert is first mentioned in 1083, replacing an earlier ford over the Clain. Before the Pont Neuf was built in 1778 it controlled the main eastern entrance to Poitiers, from the Bourges road and the Montbernage suburb, leading to the Grand'rue. It was rebuilt in 1451 with a stronger defensive system tied to the city walls: a second gate with a drawbridge stood mid-span. The towers were demolished in 1829 because they obstructed traffic.
A chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary once stood on the structure from the early 1700s until 1900, shaping the bridge's appearance for generations. The statue from this chapel now rests in the Sainte-Radegonde church, serving as a reminder of its former religious purpose.
Several parking options surround the area, such as Q-Park Les Cordeliers and Parking Gare de Poitiers, making access convenient for visitors. The bridge is freely accessible at any time and walking across takes only a few minutes.
On the right bank, downstream from the bridge, stands the small Fontaine du Pont-Joubert, also called Fontaine du Légat. It dates from the 15th century and is the only one kept of the half-dozen fountains that once lined the Clain, and it was also the best known.
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