Pont Vieux, Medieval stone bridge in Laval, France

Pont Vieux is a bridge over the Mayenne in Laval, built in the 13th century and the city's oldest. It is made of schist rubble masonry with three visible pointed arches carried on piers with cutwaters. Its flat deck is edged by a low stone parapet, and plants grow from crevices in the weathered grey and beige stone.

The bridge was built in medieval times to connect both sides of Laval's river crossing. It has survived centuries of use while maintaining its foundational medieval design.

Originally called Pont Saint-Julien or Pont de Mayenne, the bridge carried a town gate with a drawbridge and houses on both sides, making crossing narrow and difficult; gate and most houses were demolished in 1779. It links rue du Pont de Mayenne on the left bank to the Grande rue on the right.

The bridge links rue du Pont de Mayenne on the left bank with Grande rue on the right bank. Its deck is flat and edged by a low stone parapet, and the fourth arch is embedded in the west quay built in the 19th century, so only three arches show from the river.

The fourth arch is no longer visible: when the quays were built along the Mayenne in the 19th century, it was absorbed into the west quay. The three arches seen today are pointed, resting on piers with cutwaters. On 6 August 1944 German troops partly blew up the bridge during the Liberation of Laval; it was rebuilt afterwards.