Pont de pierre, Stone bridge in Agen, France.

The Pont de pierre is a light-grey concrete bridge over the Garonne linking Agen with Le Passage d'Agen. Its flat deck carries a roadway, a low railing and a row of streetlights, and rests on three broad arches supported by four thick piers standing in the water. The roadway curves slightly as it recedes toward the left bank.

A stone bridge over the Garonne was planned from the 12th century: Richard the Lionheart confirmed charters for a bridge in 1189, and in 1208 the consuls of Agen contracted Bernard Trichender of Cahors for 30,000 Arnaudin sous. Medieval spans rested on stone piers with a wooden deck and were repeatedly swept away by floods, notably in 1347. In 1514 the consuls decided to rebuild on the surviving piers, and work began on 16 October 1516.

The name pont de pierre simply means 'stone bridge' and reflects its original construction method. Today pedestrians and vehicles cross it daily, experiencing the role it plays in connecting Agen with the opposite bank.

The bridge is easily accessible for both pedestrians and vehicles, providing direct crossing over the Garonne. Keep in mind that daily traffic can be heavy, particularly during peak hours.

The bridge struggled with constant flooding in medieval times, requiring frequent rebuilding and repairs. These repeated challenges reveal the complexity of maintaining a secure structure at this point on the river.