Ponts de la route des Courses

Ponts de la route des Courses is a pair of bridges in Saint-Brieuc, in the Côtes-d'Armor department of Brittany. The name covers a road bridge, known locally as the Pont des Courses, and the older railway viaduct that crosses directly above it — together they form an unusual two-tier river crossing.

What's the story behind these two bridges?

The older of the pair is the railway viaduct, built around 1886 by the Compagnie de l'Ouest to carry a line serving the port of Légué. Beneath one of its arches runs the road bridge, the Pont des Courses, designed in 1905 by engineer Louis Harel de la Noë. That bridge carried road traffic between Saint-Brieuc and Moncontour until the railway line it ran alongside closed in 1948, after which its original transport role gradually faded.

What makes the bridge worth a stop?

The Pont des Courses measures 40 metres in length and rises 12 metres above ground level. Its most distinctive feature is the offset arrangement of its arch supports — an unusual choice for an early-20th-century structure that sets it apart from other bridges Harel de la Noë built across the region. Just as striking is its position: the road bridge runs literally underneath an arch of the railway viaduct, creating a layered engineering scene rarely seen at this scale.

That architectural value earned the road bridge a listing as a French Historic Monument in 2018. Two years later, in 2020, it underwent a full rehabilitation and now serves only walkers and cyclists, forming part of the EuroVélo 4 route, marketed in France as the Vélomaritime.

How do you get there, and when should you visit?

The bridges sit on the edge of Saint-Brieuc, along the former road to Moncontour, near the valley leading down to the port of Légué. It's a natural stop for anyone cycling or walking the Vélomaritime, easily worked into a longer stretch of the coastal route. Daytime visits work best, since good light brings out how the two structures interlock. Since the crossing is now purely recreational, there are no opening hours or entry fees to plan around.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

Close by, Saint-Brieuc offers the Gouëdic valley and the quays of the port of Légué, the very port the railway line once served via the viaduct above the bridge. Visiting both together helps explain why this spot saw such substantial rail and road infrastructure in the first place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you walk across the bridge? Yes. Since its 2020 rehabilitation, the Pont des Courses has been reserved for pedestrians and cyclists as part of the EuroVélo 4 route.

Why is the name plural — "Ponts"? It refers to two structures meeting at one spot: the 1905 road bridge by Harel de la Noë, and the older railway viaduct from around 1886, under whose arch the road bridge passes.

Is the bridge a listed monument? Yes, the Pont des Courses was inscribed as a French Historic Monument in 2018.

Until when did it serve the railway? The viaduct carried the line to the port of Légué, while the road bridge kept its traffic role between Saint-Brieuc and Moncontour until that railway line closed in 1948.