Ancient bridges over the Loire in the Touraine area, bridge in France
Ancient bridges over the Loire in the Touraine area near Tours are structures that span from the third century to the present day. They display different building methods, ranging from wooden posts and stone arches to modern metal constructions that serve the city's traffic needs.
The first known bridge dates to the third century, when Roman oak posts crossed the river, later followed by stone bridges such as the one built by Eudes in 1034. Modern iron and steel bridges emerged in the 1800s and were partly destroyed and rebuilt during wars to keep the city connected.
The old bridges shape how people move through Tours and reflect the city's long relationship with the Loire. They remain active passageways where daily life unfolds and history is visible in the stonework itself.
The bridges are spread throughout the city and easy to reach on foot, with each one offering a different route and surroundings. Daytime visits work best for seeing the construction details and how people use these crossings in daily life.
A remarkable discovery in 2003 revealed that the oldest bridge crossing from the third century consisted of carefully aligned oak posts that only became visible during extreme drought. This ancient structure may have even been used by Saint Martin, the figure who made Tours famous.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
