Pont des Barris on explore 28 07 2025
️ Pont des Barris in Périgueux: A Story of Urban Transition
Built between 1860 and 1861, this bridge replaced the former medieval Tournepiche Bridge, also known as the “crooked bridge,” which connected the historic heart of Périgueux to the Barris district on the left bank. The old bridge, dating from the 12th to 14th centuries, was fortified and adorned with towers—witness to a defensive, enclosed city. It was demolished in December 1860 to allow for the modernization of the crossing.
The new bridge, named Pont des Barris, was built in a functional Second Empire style by the Coquelet brothers, local contractors. It reflects the desire to rationalize traffic flow and open up the urban landscape, replacing the curvature and congestion of the medieval structure with a straight and open line.
Reading the Image: A Stone Bridge Between Structure and Ornament
In the photograph, we clearly see the three semicircular arches that form the core of the bridge. The massive piers, equipped with rounded cutwaters, help resist the currents of the Isle river, seen here as a dark, reflective surface.
The modern metal railings respect the original structure but were likely rebuilt or adapted during the 1963 widening, designed to meet modern traffic needs.
Antique-style lamp posts, adorned with hanging flower baskets, give the bridge a touch of elegance—between municipal memory and floral embellishment. This type of decoration is typical of towns seeking to enhance their heritage and charm for visitors.
Urban Context and Memorial Significance
In the background, the stone corner house marks an old crossroads. It faces the road leading to the center of Périgueux, where the spire of Saint-Front Cathedral can be glimpsed in the distance. Everything here evokes passage—a link between two riverbanks, between a former working-class suburb and the monumental city center.
The memorial field of the Pont des Barris is twofold:
It bears the mark of the Second Empire, a time of urban modernization, with the development of embankments, roads, and civic infrastructure.
It erases a medieval fortified bridge, a witness to a closed city shaped by defense, tolls, religious processions, and separation between districts.
Thus, the bridge stands as a symbolic transition in the city’s history—from a defensive, fragmented space to an open, connected, and modern urban form.
Note légale :
Les photographies présentées sont protégées par le droit d’auteur.
Toute reproduction, diffusion ou utilisation à des fins commerciales est strictement interdite sans autorisation préalable.
Ces images sont publiées à des fins de consultation privée, culturelle ou éducative uniquement.
All photographs are protected by copyright.
❌ Any commercial use, reproduction, or distribution without prior written consent is strictly prohibited.
✉️ For collaboration inquiries or usage permissions, please contact me directly.
Pont des Barris on explore 28 07 2025
️ Pont des Barris in Périgueux: A Story of Urban Transition
Built between 1860 and 1861, this bridge replaced the former medieval Tournepiche Bridge, also known as the “crooked bridge,” which connected the historic heart of Périgueux to the Barris district on the left bank. The old bridge, dating from the 12th to 14th centuries, was fortified and adorned with towers—witness to a defensive, enclosed city. It was demolished in December 1860 to allow for the modernization of the crossing.
The new bridge, named Pont des Barris, was built in a functional Second Empire style by the Coquelet brothers, local contractors. It reflects the desire to rationalize traffic flow and open up the urban landscape, replacing the curvature and congestion of the medieval structure with a straight and open line.
Reading the Image: A Stone Bridge Between Structure and Ornament
In the photograph, we clearly see the three semicircular arches that form the core of the bridge. The massive piers, equipped with rounded cutwaters, help resist the currents of the Isle river, seen here as a dark, reflective surface.
The modern metal railings respect the original structure but were likely rebuilt or adapted during the 1963 widening, designed to meet modern traffic needs.
Antique-style lamp posts, adorned with hanging flower baskets, give the bridge a touch of elegance—between municipal memory and floral embellishment. This type of decoration is typical of towns seeking to enhance their heritage and charm for visitors.
Urban Context and Memorial Significance
In the background, the stone corner house marks an old crossroads. It faces the road leading to the center of Périgueux, where the spire of Saint-Front Cathedral can be glimpsed in the distance. Everything here evokes passage—a link between two riverbanks, between a former working-class suburb and the monumental city center.
The memorial field of the Pont des Barris is twofold:
It bears the mark of the Second Empire, a time of urban modernization, with the development of embankments, roads, and civic infrastructure.
It erases a medieval fortified bridge, a witness to a closed city shaped by defense, tolls, religious processions, and separation between districts.
Thus, the bridge stands as a symbolic transition in the city’s history—from a defensive, fragmented space to an open, connected, and modern urban form.
Note légale :
Les photographies présentées sont protégées par le droit d’auteur.
Toute reproduction, diffusion ou utilisation à des fins commerciales est strictement interdite sans autorisation préalable.
Ces images sont publiées à des fins de consultation privée, culturelle ou éducative uniquement.
All photographs are protected by copyright.
❌ Any commercial use, reproduction, or distribution without prior written consent is strictly prohibited.
✉️ For collaboration inquiries or usage permissions, please contact me directly.