artist crosses ancient bridge |
During Paul Thomas's week the group painted the Pont Julien just below Bonnieux. The bridge, which was open to traffic until 2005, was built in 3 BC, it has had over 2000 years of continuous use! It is both sturdy and beautiful. The river Calavon which runs beneath it is at this time of year a pleasant trickle, but in times of flood it becomes a raging torrent. The Romans who built the bridge using local stone, allowed for the river's seasonal variation and wisely gave it high arches and 'dégueuloirs', additional arched openings through which the flood water could freely flow.
It is the last remaining intact bridge on the Via Domitia the Roman road which linked Italy with Hispania.
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