Pont de Vieille-Brioude (Vieille-Brioude Bridge) is located in France, crossing the river Allier. It is a masonry arch bridge with a span of 45m (148feet) that was built in 1832.[1]
The predecessor of this bridge on the same site was probably built in 1479 and had a span of 54m (177feet), making it the longest existing arch span for some three hundred years.[2] The bridge was ordered by local resident Lady de Dombes and built by Grenier and Estone similar to how Pont Grand (Tournon-sur-Rhône) was later built.[3] The completion of the bridge was delayed for years because of some controversy. The bridge was too narrow,[4] and its approaches were too steep to be used by carts. It collapsed on 27 March 1822, at 6 am.
Before any stone bridge had been built on this site, there was a wooden bridge.
Other very large medieval bridges