Pont De Pierre Size report
The Pont de Pierre, or "Stone Bridge" in English, is a stone bridge over the Garonne River in the city of Bordeaux, French, connecting the Boulevard Victor Hugo on the left bank with the Avenue Thiers on the right bank.
It is the first bridge over the Garonne River. The Pont de Pierre was designed during the First French Empire and built under the orders of Napoleon I, and was built between 1819 and 1822. Claude Deschamps, the engineer of bridges and roads, directed the works with the collaboration of the future mayor of Bordeaux, Jean-Baptiste Billaudel.
The old bridge was made of stone and brick. The brick piles are decorated with a white medallion in tribute to Napoleon. Over the centuries, crossing the Garonne from the left bank to the right made it possible to develop Bordeaux exponentially. Let's learn more about the size and structure of Pont de Pierre.
Size and Structure of Pont Pierre
During these three years, from 1819 to 1822, the architects and engineers of the Pont de Pierre faced many challenges due to the strong currents in the Garonne River; they even borrowed diving bells from England to stabilize the bridge's pillars. The Pont de Pierre has 17 arches, and the number 17 also happens to be the number of letters in Napoléon Bonaparte's name. The Pont de Pierre was the only bridge spanning both sides of the Garonne River until the Pont Saint-Jean was constructed in 1965.
Today, it is crossed by an ultramodern tramway. Pont de Pierre has become an important and spectacular old building in Bordeaux, and this bridge also plays a vital role in Bordeaux's traffic roads. At the same time, the bridge has gradually become a landmark in Bordeaux. On April 26, 2004, Bordeaux issued a stamp with a face value of 0.5 euros featuring the Pont Pierre.
Dimensions of the Pont de Pierre
Pont de Pierre was classified as a historic monument in 2002; the stone bridge of Bordeaux is 486 meters (1,589 feet) long and 19 meters (62 feet) wide. It is made up of 17 arches. The bridge was recently turned into a pedestrian zone, except for trams and buses.
| Quick Facts | Size |
|---|---|
| Length | 486 m (1,589 ft) |
| Width | 19 m (62 ft) |
| Number of Spans | 17 |
Final Words
Crossing the river by boat was necessary before the construction of Pont de Pierre. Due to its long history, important location, and stunning architecture, the stone bridge has become one of the symbols of Bordeaux and the Gironde. This bridge offers incredible views of the left and right banks and their rising spires. At night, lights on the Pont de Pierre make the bridge shinning, and Place de la Bourse stands out.
