Pont de Saint-Pons, Medieval stone bridge in Aix-en-Provence, France

Pont de Saint-Pons is a medieval stone bridge crossing the Arc River near Aix-en-Provence, built with four arches of limestone blocks. The structure includes triangular buttresses that extend from the riverbed to the parapet, supporting the entire construction.

The original structure was built before 1320 and served as a key transportation route in the region. Between 1746 and 1764, it was widened to accommodate growing trade traffic.

The bridge takes its name from the Saint-Pons hamlet on the Arc, where a toll was collected until 1674; the nuns of Saint-Barthélemy sold that toll right to Melchior Bourdon by act of 15 December 1561. The château of the Bourdon family, an old Aix family of viguiers and consuls, stood by the bridge, and in the inn at its foot the Count of Grignan, son-in-law of Madame de Sévigné and governor of Provence, died on 30 December 1714.

The bridge carries the D543 road between Calas and Éguilles, about 10 km west of Aix-en-Provence and 4 km before the Roquefavour Aqueduct. It remains open to traffic, so visitors should approach on foot along the verge rather than stop on the roadway. The limestone deck is narrow and has no separate pedestrian path.

The bridge combines three pointed arches with one round arch, an unusual mix that reflects its construction across different periods. This architectural variety shows how the structure was updated over time while maintaining its practical purpose.