Pont du Gourgaret

Pont du Gourgaret is a stone bridge spanning the Bresque river in Salernes, a small town in the Var department of Provence. Modest in scale but solidly built, it ranks among the oldest surviving pieces of local infrastructure and has been listed as a French historic monument since 1981.

What should you know about the bridge before visiting?

The structure has medieval roots, built in the Romanesque style, and was reworked in the 17th century, which gave it the form seen today. Its vaulted, masonry construction is typical of Provençal bridges from that era: a narrow roadway, thick stone piers, and arches sized to handle a modest river that can still swell after heavy rain. The Bresque itself is a minor watercourse, but the bridge needed to withstand seasonal surges, which explains its sturdy build.

Formal protection came on 5 July 1981, when the bridge was entered into the register of monuments historiques. Today it stands along Chemin du Gourgaret and remains municipal property — a quiet fixture that locals cross without a second thought, while visitors usually stumble across it while wandering the edges of town.

Why is Salernes worth more than just the bridge?

A visit to Pont du Gourgaret pairs naturally with exploring Salernes itself, a town known across France for producing terracotta floor tiles called tomettes. The area's rich clay deposits gave rise to a long tradition of pottery and ceramics, and that craft has shaped the town's identity for centuries. Workshops and studios, some still active today, sit alongside the narrow streets of the old quarter, giving the town the feel of a classic Provençal artisan community.

Salernes lies in the Var department, in the heart of Provence, surrounded by hills covered in vineyards and olive groves. It's a landscape where agricultural and craft traditions blend with the unhurried pace of small southern French towns — and stone bridges like Pont du Gourgaret are quiet, lasting witnesses to that history.

How do you get to the bridge, and what else is nearby?

The bridge sits within Salernes itself, so the easiest way to reach it is on foot, walking from the town center toward Chemin du Gourgaret. It's worth combining the visit with a stroll through the old town, where you can browse the storefronts of local ceramics workshops and take in the compact squares typical of Provençal architecture.

The area around Salernes also makes a good base for exploring further into the Var department — within a short drive there are other towns known for historic architecture and craft traditions. The bridge itself is best enjoyed at an unhurried pace, treated as one stop along a route of local discovery rather than a destination in its own right.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is Pont du Gourgaret located? The bridge crosses the Bresque river in Salernes, along Chemin du Gourgaret, in the Var department.

How old is the bridge? Its origins go back to the Middle Ages, built in the Romanesque style, with its current form dating from a 17th-century reconstruction.

Is the bridge a protected historic monument? Yes, it has been listed on the French register of monuments historiques since 5 July 1981.

What else is worth seeing in Salernes besides the bridge? The old town and its ceramics workshops are worth a visit — Salernes is famous for producing traditional tomettes floor tiles.