13 Bridges to Explore in France

The Pont d’Arc is a 60m high and 34m wide natural bridge carved out of the rock face of the gorge over the Ardèche River in Ardeche. It’s a geological wonder and thousands of years of water and wind have eroded the stone into shaping this natural entrance to the Ardeche gorges. In the near vicinity of the arch is the Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave, containing one of the earliest known Paleolithic cave paintings, about 30,000 years old.

The Pont du Diable on the Hérault River is one of many bridges in France with this name means Devil's bridge. It was registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in conjunction with the St James’ Way to Santiago de Compostela in western Spain. Among the oldest existing French medieval bridges, it incorporates the early techniques of Romanesque art in the region, including two main arches and two secondary arches, demonstrating the strength and solidity of its construction.

The Pont Alexandre III is a bridge crossing the Seine between the 7th and 8th arrondissement of Paris. This site is served by the subway station Invalides and the station Invalides of the RER C line. This site is served by the subway station Invalides and the station Invalides of the RER C line. The bridge was intended to symbolize the Franco - Russian friendship, established by the signing of the alliance concluded in 1891 between the Emperor Alexander III and the president of the French Republ

Pont d'Espagne is a stone-built bridge that spans the Gave de Marcadau at the point where it meets the Gave de Gaube. It is a natural tourist site in the Pyrenees at an altitude of around 1,500 m in the town of Cauterets in the Hautes-Pyrénées department. It is a protected area of ​​the Pyrenees forming part of the Pyrenees National Park. There is also a cross-country ski area that is part of the Cauterets winter sports resort.

The Pont de Bir-Hakeim is a two-level bridge built in the early 20th century. The upper level of the bridge was used by metro line 6, while the lower level is for motor vehicles. This bridge gives a spectacular view of the Eiffel tower. This bridge was built between 1903 and 1905 to replace the earlier steel footbridge that had been constructed for the World Exhibition in 1878. This bridge has been featured in many movies and is a popular destination in this area.

The Pont de Pierre is a masonry arched bridge crossing the Garonne river in Bordeaux. It connects the city ​​center to the district of La Bastide, on the right bank. It was built by the order of Napoleon I between 1810 and 1822, was designed by engineers Claude Deschamps and Jean-Baptiste Basilide Billaudel. It has been listed as a historical monument since 2002. It was one of the architectural wonders of that time.

The Pont des Amours is a footbridge located on the shores of Lake Annecy at the entrance to the Vassé canal; its official name is “Passerelle du Jardin public” but the people of Annecy have renamed it “Pont des Amours” for a very long time. It connects the Pâquier to the Gardens of Europe where lovers used to go to find refuge and tranquility. This bridge remains today a very frequented passage in an absolutely romantic setting with magnificent views of the city, the canals, and the lake.

Pont des Arts were situated between the Institut de France and the Louvre. Built between 1801 and 1804, it was the first iron bridge in Paris. Reserved for pedestrians, the footbridge makes for a pleasant stroll with family and friends. The bridge has sometimes served as a place for art exhibitions and is today a "studio en Plein air" for painters, artists, and photographers who are drawn to its unique point of view.

This vertical lift bridge across the Seine in Normandy is 56 metres tall and 55 metres long. Its deck is lifted straight up by a butterfly-shaped pulley system so tall ships can pass through. It takes 12 minutes to raise the section. It is the highest drawbridge in the world. The length of the pulling part of the bridge is 116 meters, and its general extent is much greater and reaches 670 meters. The unique design features enable the traffic of ships of various sizes.

The Pont Neuf is considered to be the oldest stone bridge in Paris. Henri IV ordered it to be constructed in 1578. It was designed by Baptiste Du Cerceau and Pierre des Illes, who may have made use of an earlier design by Guillaume Marchand. the Pont-Neuf was the only bridge to span the whole width of the River Seine. It was the only bridge and the first causeway to feature pavements, thus protecting pedestrians from horses and mud.

The Pont Neuf is the oldest bridge in Toulouse which links Gascogne to the Languedoc. It was commissioned by the King of France, François I. The Pont Neuf has largely preceded the other bridges built over the Garonne such as the Pont Saint-Michel in 1836, or the Pont Saint-Pierre in 1852. It is one of the famous landmarks in this area and also it attracts a lot of tourists.

The Pont d'Avignon is one of the most famous historic bridges in France, forming part of a World Heritage Site. According to the legend, the bridge was built in the 12th century by a young shepherd from Ardèche - Bénezet. It was later washed away several times by flood waters and rebuilt until it was abandoned in the 17th century. Today, all that remains are four arches and a chapel.

The Millau Viaduct is a cable-stayed bridge crossing the valley of the Tarn, in the department of Aveyron in France. Carrying the A75 motorway, it provides the junction between the Causse Rouge and the Causse du Larzac by crossing a breach 2,460 meters long and 343 meters deep at the highest point, in a panorama of high quality and with winds likely to blow over 200 km / h.