Pont Flavien

The Pont Flavien is a Roman bridge across the River Touloubre in Saint-Chamas, Bouches-du-Rhône department [1]. The single-arch crossing, which was built from limestone, was on a Roman road - the Via Julia Augusta - between Placentia, Italy and Arles [1]. It is the only surviving example of a Roman bridge bounded by triumphal arches from the Augustan period, although similar bridges probably existed elsewhere, as indicated by portrayals on coins of the late 1st century BC [1]. The bridge probably replaced an earlier wooden structure on the same site [1]. It measures 21.4 metres long by 6.2 metres wide [1]. The two arches at either end, each standing 7 metres high with a single wide bay, are constructed of the same local stone as the bridge and are broader than they are tall [1]. At the corners of the arches are fluted Corinthian pilasters at the top of which are carved eagles [1].