Pont Saint-Martin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pont Saint-Martin |
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The Pont Saint-Martin
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| Carries | Connection Po Valley-Gaul |
| Crosses | Lys |
| Locale | Pont-Saint-Martin, Aosta Valley, Italy |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Arch bridge |
| Material | Stone |
| Width | 5.8 m |
| Longest span | 31.4 m, 35.64 m or 36.65 m |
| Number of spans | 1 |
| History | |
| Construction end | Reign of Augustus (27 BC–14 AD) |
The Pont Saint-Martin is an amazing Roman bridge located in the Aosta Valley region of Italy. This ancient stone bridge was built by the Romans way back in the 1st century BC. It's a fantastic example of how clever Roman engineers were, as it has stood strong for over 2,000 years!
This bridge crosses the Lys river in the town of Pont-Saint-Martin. It was a very important connection between the Po Valley in Italy and Gaul (which is mostly modern-day France).
Contents
What is the Pont Saint-Martin?
The Pont Saint-Martin is a type of bridge called an arch bridge. It's made entirely of stone. The Romans were masters at building with stone and creating strong arches. An arch shape helps to spread the weight of the bridge evenly, making it very stable.
This bridge has one main arch. Its span, which is the distance it covers, is about 31.4 metres (103 ft) (around 103 feet). Some older records say it might be a bit longer, like 35.64 meters or 36.65 meters. The bridge is also about 5.8 meters (19 feet) wide.
When was it built?
The Pont Saint-Martin was built during the time of the Roman Emperor Augustus. His rule lasted from 27 BC to 14 AD. This means the bridge is truly ancient, dating back to a time long before cars or even bicycles existed!
Building such a large stone bridge without modern tools was a huge achievement. It shows how skilled Roman builders were at planning and construction.
Why was this bridge important?
Roman bridges like the Pont Saint-Martin were super important for the Roman Empire. They helped people travel, trade goods, and move armies quickly. This bridge specifically connected two major areas: the Po Valley in northern Italy and Gaul.
Imagine trying to cross a wide river without a bridge! It would be very difficult and slow. Bridges made it much easier for the Romans to control their vast empire and keep everything connected.
Other Roman bridges nearby
The Aosta Valley region is home to other impressive Roman bridges too. These include the Pont d'Aël in the Cogne Valley and the Pont de Pierre in the city of Aosta. These bridges, along with the Pont Saint-Martin, are amazing reminders of Roman engineering genius. They show us how advanced the Romans were in building structures that could last for centuries.
See also
- List of Roman bridges
- Roman architecture
- Roman engineering
