Pont Julien (Roman Bridge)
Provence-Beyond (Beyond the French Riviera) ®
Vaucluse (84)
Altitude: 180 m
Nearby:
[ Apt | Bonnieux | Luberon | Roussillon ]
Photos:
A bigger view of the cyclists crossing the Roman bridge (23 k)
A closer view of the bridge (26 k)
Below: [ Cycling | Hiking ]
The photos are taken from the eastern side, showing the northern end at the right.
This lovely three-arched bridge is in excellent condition and is in use today as a road (and cycling) bridge on the D149 (connecting the main Apt-Cavaillon road with Bonnieux and Lacoste). The arches are semi-circular to minimise the tension on the abutments, and are of different sizes to ensure that the piers stand on the solid bedrock foundations.
The Pont Julien was on the main route from Cisalpine (northern Italy) to Transalpine Gaul (Provence) that followed the Durance valley for much of the way. Written sources indicate that this was the normal way Roman armies entered Gaul. Of the many bridges along the route, this is the only survivor.
Cycling
A main cycling trail (Itinéraire Cyclotouristique) takes small roads and lanes (and some of the old Roman road):
East - along the Calavon valley to Apt and Céreste. From Céreste, the cycling trail continues on to Carluc, Reillanne, Vachières and eventually Forcalquier in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.
West - to Ménerbes, Oppéde-le-Vieux, Maubec, Robion, Taillades and Cavaillon.
- Hiking
- Maps:
- IGN "bleue" (1:25,000) 3142 est "Apt, Bonnieux"
- Didier Richard (1:50,000) #14 "Luberon"
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A local hiking trail, with yellow markers, goes east to Apt, 8 km away.
The GR97 (Grande Randonnée) passes through the center of the Luberon mountains south of the Bonnieux.
