Pont Valentré

The Pont Valentré is the symbol of Cahors. It is a very fortified bridge that was built in the first half of the 13th century. The middle tower had space for a permanent guard post. The two outer towers had portcullises to keep out enemies.
The construction of this bridge took over half a century, which was a very long time even in the Middle Ages. That's why a legend soon arose about the master builder and - how could it be otherwise - the devil.
The builder is said to have promised the devil his soul if he would help him complete the bridge and bring the structure to a happy end.
The remaining construction work then went smoothly. When the last stone was to be inserted, mortar had to be mixed again, but there was no water. The builder then sent the devil to fetch water using a sieve. The devil couldn't do that either and so he had to leave the master builder's soul.

The Pont Valentré is a medieval bridge spanning the River Lot in the town of Cahors. The bridge is 172 meters long, and has eight arches. Three square towers were built on the bridge, which were intended to defend the city of Cahors. Known as the symbol of the city, the Pont Valentré is one of the best-preserved medieval fortress bridges in France.

On the pilgrimage route, valleys and rivers have to be crossed again and again. The bridges are sometimes relatively modern, sometimes medieval and sometimes even older. Here in Cahors, there is a very beautiful bridge, unusual because of its imposing fortification towers, which leads - not only, of course, but also us pilgrims - over the Lot on the Chemin de Saint Jacques.
Everything unusual, in turn, attracts legends, as Gerhard has already told the story above.