The ''Ponts Couverts'' (german: Gedeckte Brücken) 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 primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
. 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'' 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 As a defensive mechanism, they were superseded by the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 particu ...
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