Pont du Diable, Hérault

The Pont du Diable on the Hérault River is one of many bridges in France with this name (=Devil's bridge). It is located over a steep-sided gorge, about 4 km north-west of Aniane in the Hérault département.

Constructed by Benedictine monks in the 11th century, it provided a link between the abbey at Aniane and the Gellone Abbey at Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert. Though subsequently widened, it has retained its original shape. Vehicular traffic is now catered for by a newer bridge, from which splendid views may be had of the original bridge and an aqueduct that takes water to the vineyards of Saint-Jean-de-Fos.

The bridge is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the World Heritage Sites of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France.

There are two other bridges in Herault known as "Pont du Diable", at Olargues and at Villemagne-l'Argentière.

ee also

* Devil's Bridge

References

*Michelin: "Green Guide Languedoc, Rousillon, Tarn Gorges" (1998) p. 194

External links

* [http://www.devilsbridge.org Devil's Bridge]