Devil's Bridge

The Devil's Bridge is one of the oldest Romanesque bridges in France. According to the cartulary of Gellone, the construction took place in 873 according to the latest research conducted by the University of Montpellier, following an agreement concluded between the abbot of Aniane and the abbot of Gellone, so probably in the first half of the eleventh century.

The bridge owes its name to an ancient legend that claimed that during the construction of the bridge, the devil came every night to undo what men built during the day. One day, the men (who can no longer build in vain) make a deal with him: he could take the first soul that passes on the bridge. So the men built the bridge. But none of the men would give their souls to the devil, so they put a dog first. Enraged, the Devil tried in vain to destroy the bridge without succeeding and threw himself into the water, hence the name "the Devil's Bridge".

The Devil's Bridge has been listed as a historical monument since 5 April 19352. It is also inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Camino de Santiago in France.

Bertrand Frcv