Pont du Diable

Pont du Diable is a small stone bridge in the commune of Villemagne-l'Argentière, in the Hérault department of Occitanie, southern France. It should not be confused with the far more famous bridge of the same name near the Gorges de l'Hérault, close to Aniane — France has more than a dozen bridges nicknamed "Devil's Bridge," and this one in Villemagne is a separate, lesser-known structure with its own story.

Where exactly is the bridge?

The bridge spans the Mare river, about a kilometre from the village centre, along the road toward Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare. It sits in a quiet, rural setting away from the main tourist routes, which is precisely what makes it appealing to travellers looking for a calmer corner of Languedoc.

What does it look like, and why is it built at an angle?

The structure is built of masonry, roughly 14 metres long and 4 metres wide, resting on two full semicircular arches. Its most distinctive feature is a sloped, angled deck: because the two banks of the Mare sit at different heights, the roadway doesn't run level but tilts down toward one side. That detail sets it apart from the more typical, symmetrical arched bridges found across the region and makes it a small but interesting example of local engineering.

Where does the name come from, and what was it used for?

Like many bridges bearing this name across France, "Pont du Diable" owes its title to folk legends that attributed hard-to-explain feats of engineering to the devil's handiwork. In practical terms, though, the bridge served a much more down-to-earth economic purpose: it carried convoys transporting coal and lignite from the mines at Graissessac to the glassworks at Hérépian. It was, in other words, a working link in the region's mining-era transport infrastructure.

How old is the bridge?

Sources disagree on the exact construction date — some point to the late 18th century, others to an earlier period. Regardless of the precise date of construction, the bridge has been listed as a historic monument in France since 27 May 1936, confirming its recognised value as a piece of local heritage.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

Villemagne-l'Argentière itself is one of the smallest and most picturesque villages in the region, ranked among the Most Beautiful Villages of France. Its layout grew up around a former Benedictine abbey, and its narrow streets still preserve a medieval street plan along with the stone houses typical of this part of Hérault. Walking from the village centre to the bridge makes for a short, pleasant outing that pairs a piece of ecclesiastical architecture with a relic of the area's old industrial transport network.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the same Pont du Diable as the famous bridge near the Gorges de l'Hérault? No. This is a different, smaller bridge, located in Villemagne-l'Argentière over the Mare river, while the best-known "Pont du Diable" lies further north over the Hérault river, near Aniane and Saint-Jean-de-Fos.

How do I get to the bridge from the village? It's about a kilometre from the centre of Villemagne-l'Argentière, along the road toward Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare — an easy, short walk.

What was the bridge historically used for? It carried coal and lignite from the mines at Graissessac to the glassworks at Hérépian, so its original role was economic rather than purely for local travel.

Is the bridge a protected historic monument? Yes, it has been listed as a French historic monument since 1936.