The best traffic-free bike rides around Châtellerault

The Henri IV bridge of Châtellerault: a history of nearly 1,000 years The Henri IV bridge is one of Châtellerault's emblematic monuments. It crosses the Vienne river near its confluence with the Envigne and is today a remarkable work of the Renaissance. 🏰 Before the current bridge The existence of a bridge in Châtellerault is attested as early as the 11th century, around 1065, and again in 1120. It is said to have been initially linked to an old ford allowing crossing the Vienne. In the Middle Ages, several structures followed one another. A stone bridge is said to have been built in the 12th century, parallel to the development of the fortified district of Châteauneuf on the left bank. Around 1350, during the Hundred Years' War, the crossing was fortified with towers placed at the ends of the bridge. In the 16th century, the bridge was badly damaged. A major flood of the Vienne in 1556 notably destroyed the old wooden structure. King Henry II then considered rebuilding it in stone, but his accidental death in 1559 interrupted the project. 👑 The construction of the current bridge It was finally under Charles IX, then Henry III, that the project for a new large stone bridge was relaunched around 1564-1565, at the request of the inhabitants. The construction would be extraordinarily long: over forty years, from 1565 to 1609. Four architects succeeded each other in managing the site, including members of the famous Du Cerceau family, great architects of the Renaissance. The site was finally completed under Henry IV, with the decisive intervention of Sully, his superintendent of buildings and chief surveyor of France. Henry IV himself came to Châtellerault in 1606, while the bridge was not yet finished. It would be delivered in 1609, a year before the king's death. It is therefore important to specify that the bridge was not built "by Henry IV": it was started under Charles IX and completed during his reign. Why does it bear his name? It is even an interesting peculiarity: for several centuries, it was not called "Henri IV bridge". It is found under the names: -Pont-Neuf -Grands-Ponts -Bridge of Châtellerault -then in the 19th century Pont Sully. -It was only around 1900 that it definitively took the name of Henri IV bridge. 🏗️ An exceptional structure The bridge measures approximately 150 m in length and over 21 m in width. It consists of large stone arches. It has a very remarkable feature: two powerful round towers with conical roofs frame the entrance to the bridge on the left bank, on the Châteauneuf side. These towers give the bridge its almost "fortified" appearance. However, contrary to what one might think, they were not essentially military structures. They could notably be used to control the entrance to the town, especially during periods of unrest or epidemics. The towers formerly located at the other end, on the town side, have now disappeared. ⚔️ The bridge during the Second World War The bridge also played a dramatic role in August 1944. As German troops were withdrawing, the bridge was threatened with destruction. On August 31 and September 1, 1944, the action of police commissioner and FFI lieutenant Charles Bichat, as well as the negotiations of sub-prefect Pierre-Marcel Wiltzer, prevented its destruction. This is a particularly important episode in the contemporary history of the monument. 🏛️ Historic Monument The Henri IV bridge has been classified as a historic monument since 1913. Today it belongs to two owners: -the Department of Vienne for the bridge, arches, and roadway; -the City of Châtellerault for the two towers. 🔨 The major recent restoration An in-depth diagnosis carried out in 2017 revealed the importance of the necessary work. A first phase of restoration was launched in 2022: waterproofing of the deck, restoration of the buried parts, and then progressive restoration of the arches. After 16 months of work, the bridge was reopened to traffic on April 21, 2023, and the work was officially inaugurated on May 27, 2023. The overall cost of restoring the masonry had been estimated at over 7.5 million euros including tax, to which were added the works concerning the roadway. A particularly interesting architectural detail The Henri IV bridge belongs to the same generation of structures as the Pont-Neuf in Paris and the Pont-Neuf in Toulouse. However, it has a remarkable characteristic: great regularity and highly advanced architectural symmetry, with particularly sophisticated stonework.

There is a museum to discover

The contemporary art center of national interest, La Chapelle Jeanne d’Arc de Thouars, is today a leading venue for contemporary art in the western region. Along with the Château d’Oiron and the Syndicat Mixte de la Vallée du Thouet, which runs a program of public commissions for contemporary works, the art center's work is carried out in partnership across the entire territory of the Pays Thouarsais community of communes and, more broadly, in the northern part of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Within the region, the art center is a recognized player in the Astre plastic and visual arts network. Developing an artistic project that takes into account its geographical location and its architectural envelope, a neo-Gothic chapel, the art center maintains a privileged relationship with the heritage of Thouars. Guest artists, hosted for residencies or exhibitions, appropriate the chapel space by creating an original work designed for the venue. They also bring their perspective to the city, urban planning, landscape, and rural areas of the Thouars region and the Thouet Valley. Since 1993, nearly a hundred artists have been invited for residencies or exhibition projects. In recent years, the art center has paid particular attention to emerging artists from art schools, particularly those from the regional Le Grand Huit network. In addition to its programming, the art center also engages in outreach activities in the form of off-site exhibitions, workshops, and events (meetings, lectures, and workshops). A mobile device, La Mar(g)elle, was created in 2015 by the artist Marie-Ange Guilleminot to offer interventions in partner locations, particularly within schools and structures in the social and medical sectors. For its educational action, the art center benefits from the action of the municipal art school of Thouars, to which it is connected within the visual arts department of the City of Thouars.

👌

Unavoidable

Car-free!

Dating from the 13th century, at the foot of the city ramparts, this bridge ultimately offers the best view of the Château de Thouars.

The Gallo-Roman Theatre of Old Poitiers is a major archaeological site located in the Vienne department, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. This ancient theatre is one of the remains of the Gallo-Roman period in France. Cultural Importance Heritage: The Gallo-Roman Theatre of Old Poitiers is a precious testimony to Roman civilisation in Gaul and is part of the city's rich historical heritage. It offers insights into cultural and social life in Roman times. Education: The site also serves as an educational tool to understand Roman architecture and ancient theatrical practices, enriching visitors' knowledge of ancient history. The Gallo-Roman Theatre of Old Poitiers is therefore a must-see site for ancient history enthusiasts and visitors interested in Gallo-Roman heritage, offering a fascinating journey into the past. Guided tours possible by appointment.