The ''Ponts Couverts'' (; ) are a set of three bridges and four towers that make up a defensive work erected in the 13th century on the River Ill in the city of Strasbourg in

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. The three bridges cross the four river channels of the River Ill that flow through Strasbourg's historic Petite France quarter. The ''Ponts Couverts'' have been classified as a ''

Monument historique () is a designation given to some national heritage sites in France. It may also refer to the state procedure in France by which national heritage protection is extended to a building, a specific part of a building, a collection of buildings, ...

'' since 1928. Construction of the ''Ponts Couverts'' commenced in 1230, and they were opened in 1250. As a defensive mechanism, they were superseded by the

Barrage Vauban The ''Barrage Vauban'', or Vauban Dam, is a bridge, weir and defensive work erected in the 17th century on the River Ill in the city of Strasbourg in France. At that time, it was known as the Great Lock (''grande écluse''), although it does not ...

, just upstream, in 1690, but remained in use as bridges. As built, each of the bridges was covered by a wooden roof that served to protect the defenders who would have been stationed on them in time of war. These roofs were removed in 1784, but name ''Ponts Couverts'' (covered bridges) has remained in common use ever since.

Gallery

Wenceslas Hollar - Summer- the bathing place.jpg, Seen in ca. 1650 by

Wenceslaus Hollar Wenceslaus Hollar (23 July 1607 – 25 March 1677) was a prolific and accomplished Bohemian graphic artist of the 17th century, who spent much of his life in England. He is known to German speakers as ; and to Czech speakers as (). He is partic ...

Johann Baptist Kreitmayer Straßburg 1863.jpg, Seen in 1863 by Johann Baptist Kreitmayer (1819–1879) Strasbourg tower.JPG, Close-up of a tower Strasbourg PontsCouverts n03.jpg, Three towers aligned Strasbourg Ponts couverts juillet 2012.jpg, The Ponts Couverts by night

References

External links

Ponts Couverts
on archi-wiki.org
Bridges in France Fortifications in France Towers in France Buildings and structures completed in 1250 Monuments historiques of Strasbourg Tourist attractions in Strasbourg Brick Gothic Gothic architecture in Strasbourg {{BasRhin-geo-stub