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42 French Property News February 2017 www.completefrance.com February 2017 French Property News 43
www.completefrance.com
LOCATION FPN
I
think everyone knows the words to the
popular children's song 'Sur le Pont
d'Avignon' - though why anyone would want
to dance on a bridge which only crosses half a
river beats me. Leaving that particular example
aside, France has the most beautiful bridges.
With their Gallic charm, they somehow seem
more romantic. From the earliest arch and
beam bridges to newest suspension and truss
bridges, any pontist (lover of bridges) will find
something that fascinates, amazes and charms.
Two millennia ago, the Romans built many
bridges and aqueducts in France which are still
used today, the most famous being the Pont du
Gard. Constructed in the 1st century AD to
carry water from Uzès down to the Roman
colony of Nemausu (today's Nîmes), its three
tiers of arches still straddle the River Gardon in
this most impressive and graceful of structures.
One of my favourite bridges has to be the
contemporary and elegant Pont de Normandie
- the last bridge to cross the Seine before it
empties out into the Channel. When it was
FPN LOCATION
€147,000
€545,000
While some bridges are miracles of modern
engineering, many are so ancient that myths
and legends have grown up around them.
Many are known as the Pont du Diable - the
'devil's bridge' - where villagers or townsfolk
supposedly made contracts with the devil.
One such is in Olargues in Hérault, said to
date back to the 12th century and, with
three graceful arches, still in use today. This
old fortified village is a delight surrounded
by chestnut and cherry trees, vines and olive
trees. Old shops have marble facades and
overhanging upper storeys, while the
enchanting paved streets and covered
passageways encourage you to linger.
In the hills above Olargues is a lovely
stone property with great views - the higher
you go here, the greater the panorama. On
the ground floor there's a fully equipped
kitchen and generous living room with
impressive fireplace. This space leads out to
a small patio complete with outbuilding
(currently a workshop but crying out to
become a summer kitchen) and there's even
space for a jacuzzi - how lovely for balmy
summer evenings. Upstairs are three
bedrooms and an attic which could be
converted. The terraced garden is reached
from the first floor behind the house or
staircase behind the garage. Situated in a
peaceful, stunning location, this home is for
sale at €147,000.
PONTS DU DIABLE
From the world's tallest viaduct to a medieval marvel
standing just 11 metres high, Joanna Leggett scours
the country for highly sought-after homes close to
France's most spectacular bridges
© Bertl123 - Getty Images/iStockphoto Scale
completed 21 years ago, it was the world's
longest cable-stayed bridge at over 2km long. It
makes a real impression after you leave the
busy port of Le Havre to segue into Normandy
ready to be seduced by the charms of Honfleur.
The Seine, of course, is famed for many
outstanding bridges. Monet painted the
pont at Argenteuil no less than seven times -
once a rural escape for Parisians, these days
it is an outer suburb of the city. Other
Impressionists from Renoir to Sisley also
captured its beauty on canvas, as well as the
Realist painter Caillebotte.
In Paris itself no less than 37 bridges span the
Seine, connecting the left and right banks of the
city. Considered to be one of the most beautiful
in the world, the Pont Alexandre III, was built in
1900 for the Exposition Universelle. Four pillars
provide stabilising counterweights to the arch
without obstructing the view, and on each sits
an allegorical sculpture representing France in a
different era. Appropriately gilded, it's now a
popular spot for wedding photographers to
'capture the moment'. At the other end of the
spectrum is the Passerelle Simone de Beauvoir,
designed specifically for cyclists and walkers
with a protected area in the middle to shelter
the latter from rain.
The best way to see the bridges of Paris is
from one of the bateaux mouches which make
their way along the Seine in central Paris - they
pass under the oldest, the Pont Neuf, whose
first stone was laid by Henry III in 1578, to the
newest, the Pont Charles de Gaulle, completed
in 1996.
Perhaps it's about time for you to bridge the
gap across the Channel and cross over to your
new home in France…
heightsthe
MEDIEVAL MARVEL
Many bridges are so
ancient that myths and
legends have grown up
around them
Facing page: The spectacular Pont du Gard - an old
Roman aqueduct - near Nîmes in southern France
Moving across to 'olive oil country' in
Provence, a famed medieval bridge over the
River Eygues in Nyons which was completed
in 1407 features a single span of over 40m
- the engineering marvel of its day. The
interesting town of Nyons has lots of cafés
and restaurants, with the large plane trees
offering shade - a boon in summer months,
especially on Thursdays during the weekly
market. The main square is surrounded by
arcades and the Rue des Grands Forts - the
ancient route of the ramparts.
Just 3km away, Aubres is also well worth
exploring for its medieval buildings set in
vaulted passageways with cobbled pathways
and ancient archways. In this old Provençal
village an unusual property with business
potential, consisting of five separate houses
and a pool, is for sale. Surrounded by a
beautiful garden and several terraces, it has
stunning views over the mountains.
In total there are 12 bedrooms and seven
bathrooms, and the main house - called La
Maison - is perfect for owner's
accommodation. Recently reduced to
€545,000, this could be a wonderful home
once redecorated, with plenty of income
potential - and it's well placed to explore
Provence and the Drôme department with
its famous lavender fields.
Jardinage et Esprit de Générosité