Pont du Diable, Hérault facts for kids
The Pont du Diable (say "Pohn doo Dee-ah-bluh") is a very old bridge in France. Its name means "Devil's Bridge." It crosses the Hérault River in a deep, narrow valley called a gorge. You can find it about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) northwest of a town called Aniane, in the Hérault area of France.
This amazing bridge was built by Benedictine monks (religious men) in the early 1000s. It helped connect two important religious buildings: the abbey (a type of monastery) at Aniane and the Gellone Abbey at Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert. Even though it was made wider and taller around 1770, it still looks much like it did almost a thousand years ago!
Today, cars and trucks use a newer bridge nearby. From this new bridge, you can get a fantastic view of the old Pont du Diable. You can also see an old aqueduct, which is like a bridge that carries water to the vineyards (grape farms) in Saint-Jean-de-Fos.
A Special Bridge
The Pont du Diable is very important because of its history and how it was built.
- Since 1935, the French government has called it a monument historique. This means it's a special historical building or site that is protected.
- It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means it's a place that is important to the whole world and should be kept safe for future generations. It's part of the famous World Heritage Sites of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France, which are old pilgrim routes.
Did you know there are two other bridges in the Hérault area also called "Pont du Diable"? You can find them in towns named Olargues and Villemagne-l'Argentière.
See also
- In Spanish: Puente del Diablo de Saint-Jean-de-Fos para niños
- Devil's Bridge
- List of medieval bridges in France
- List of bridges in France
