Pont Mayou, Bayonne, Beam bridge in Bayonne, France
Pont Mayou is a stone and wood beam bridge crossing the Nive River in the old center of Bayonne, France. It connects the Petit Bayonne and Grand Bayonne sides, with a plain, sturdy deck that follows the line of the surrounding streets.
The first bridge on this spot was ordered under Napoleon I and built with wood and stone, but repeated flooding forced a change. In 1857 it was rebuilt in stone, and in the early twentieth century it was widened so that a tramway could cross.
The name Mayou comes from an old local term that Bayonne residents have used for generations, though its exact origin is no longer obvious to passersby. Today people cross the bridge on foot in a steady flow, and some pause at the low parapet to watch the Nive, while the nearby lanes fill with the sound of cafés and small shops.
A walk across this bridge takes only a few minutes and offers clear views of the riverside houses and the water below. It is an easy place to start a stroll through the old town, with flat access from the quays on either side.
The winter flood of 2009 hit this bridge hard, breaking parts of the structure and forcing people to stay away for safety. During past floods, residents gathered on it to watch the river rise, turning the crossing into a place where the town measured the strength of the water.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
