Pont de Pierre

Pont de Pierre, or Pierre Bridge in English, is a bridge in Bordeaux which connects the left bank (cours Victor Hugo)to the quartier de la Bastide (Avenue Thiers) over the Garonne River.

Overview

First bridge over the Garonne, it was constructed under the orders of Napoleon I between 1819 and 1822. [ [http://fr.structurae.de/structures/data/index.cfm?id=s0002830 Structurae [fr: Pont de Pierre (1822) ] ] During the 12 years, the builders are faced with many challenges because of the strong current at the point in the river. The used a diving bell borrowed from the British to stabilize the bridge's pillars. It has seventeen arches (number of letters in the name Napoléon Bonaparte). On the sides, each pile of bricks is capped by a white medallion in honor of the emperor. It also carries the coat of arms of the city (three intertwined crescents). It was the only bridge until the construction of pont Saint-Jean in 1965.

Postage stamp

On 26 April 2004 a tourist stamp was issued for 0.50€ in Bordeaux, Gironde [http://www.wnsstamps.ch/stamps/FR030.04/FR030.04-full.jpeg (see image)] . It shows the bridge and a train Pierre tramway de Bordeaux inaugurated on December 21, 2003. Contrary to what shows the stamp, the tram passes over the bridge, and not on a second bridge alongside. The design is the work of Claude Andréotto, engraved by Claude Jumelet for printing intaglio. The stamp was withdrawn from sale on November 12, 2004.

See also

* List of bridges in Gironde
* Station Porte de Bourgogne (Tram de Bordeaux) (left bank) and Station Stalingrad (Tram de Bordeaux) (right bank)

References

External links

* [http://maps.google.fr/?q=pont+de+pierre+bordeaux&ie=UTF8&t=h&layer=x&sll=44.840869,-0.565388&sspn=0.011016,0.018711&ll=44.84131,-0.565174&spn=0.011016,0.018711&z=16 Le pont de Pierre] sur Google Maps