Outrelepont Bridge

References to Malmedy's first bridge, the Outrelepont Bridge, can be found in texts from the 13th century. The original bridge, probably made of wood, was intended to replace an old ford located about a hundred meters upstream. The first stone bridge with its seven round arches was built in 1619-1622, but due to deficiencies in the foundations, the stone construction gradually decayed after some time. In 1765 the bridge finally had to be completely renovated. This time stones from the quarry of Mont.
Source: Information brochure "MEMORIES - A historical tour" (RESPONSIBLE PUBLISHER Sandra De Taeye - Director House for Tourism Hohes Venn - Ostbelgien)

A stone sculpture with the coat of arms of Prince Abbot Alexandre Delmotte, which was supposed to decorate the bridge, was destroyed a year later and thrown off the bridge. In 1744 the first statue of St. John of Nepomuk, the patron saint of bridges and sailors, was enthroned on the bridge's parapet . However, during the reconstruction in 1764, the figure of the Martyr of Prague disappeared. A new statue was placed in 1768, but it fell victim to the revolutionaries in 1792. A statue of Johannes Nepomuk can still be seen on the bridge today. In 1976, the artist Jean Thèrer designed it for the Outrelepont Festival Committee.
Source: Information brochure "MEMORIES - A historical tour" (RESPONSIBLE PUBLISHER Sandra De Taeye - Director House for Tourism Hohes Venn - Ostbelgien)

PONT DE "OUTRELEPONT": Outrelepont means in French "beyond the bridge" and it is the name of the Malmedy district located on the other side of the Warche, in relation to the city center. This stone bridge, with its elegant curvature, is magnificent, old and perfectly restored, the area is very pretty.