Just over 500 years after its construction, one of the few bridges still inhabited in France, and even in Europe, is now fully classified as a historic monument since November 28, 2022.

The Rohan Bridge in Landerneau (Finistere) dates from the Middle Ages. In its current state, it takes the form of a 70-metre long “street bridge”, lined with houses still occupied by many shops and dwellings. At the bottom of the estuary, it is perfectly inserted into an urban landscape that changes with the tides. With the Pont des Marchands in Narbonne (Aude), it is the most emblematic inhabited bridge architecture still visible and accessible in France. Elsewhere in Europe, built or inhabited bridges can be counted on the fingers of one hand: the famous Ponte Vecchio in Florence is the best known of those that still remain.

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Bridge of Rohan on the sea side photo taken before 1894 ©Ministry of Culture Mediatheque du patrimoine

To the origins

The city of Landerneau, whose development owes much to its very favorable geographical location, is crossed by the Elorn. A simple bridge, probably made of wood, was to cross the river in the early days of the establishment of the city. The site, at the limit of the rise of the tides in the Elorn that flows into the bay of Brest, was supposed to constitute a place of fording from antiquity. It was not until 1336 and the act of foundation of a hospital dedicated to Saint George, located «at the head of the bridge», to find the presence of a built work. During the year 1510, the bridge was rebuilt, probably in its entirety, by John II (1452-1516), viscount of Rohan, lord of Leon and count of Porhoët, who added a mill and presumably a prison.

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Rohan bridge on the river side © DRAC Bretagne

Symbol and witness of the prosperity of the trade of Leon’s paintings

For the three centuries following its construction, the city and the bridge constituted an essential node for the trade of the famous canvas produced in the countryside of Leon, exported to the ports of England, Spain, Flanders of the Netherlands and even the Baltic. The prosperity of this golden age can be seen in the beautiful stone mansions built near the quays by Lander merchants. Beyond the borders of the city, this prosperity also made it possible to build parish enclosures as close as possible to the production areas of the canvas. To date, despite the vicissitudes of time, four fires, the power of the tides and floods of the Elorn, part of the structure of the bridge dating from the beginning of the 16the century and the entirety of the buildings erected to the 17e and 19e centuries are still visible. A still inhabited shopping street crosses the Elorn. The bridge has been reworked on supporting elements. Some recent structures have been added.

The complete classification of the building by the ministry of culture ( DRAC Brittany), by promoting the repair of the last damages of summer 2021, will also allow to better know, make known and value the building.

A necessary diagnosis and a useful complete classification

Mobilized following the collapse of part of the work on the housing area in August 2021, Ginger CEBTP intervened in December 2021, January, February and summer 2022 to make a diagnosis. Its mission consisted of an inspection of the entire structure to try to locate cracks, cavities, degraded materials. The approach was conducted from the riverbed according to the access that the water level allowed. It was carried out with the naked eye, but also with the help of a GPR which makes it possible to probe the structures at a depth of 2-3 m in order to identify the presence of vacuum.

The classification of the bridge as a historic monument, effective by order of November 28, 2022, strengthens the protection of the building that was inscribed since 2010. Only one of the houses on the bridge was classified. This enhanced protection will facilitate the mobilization of financing for the work necessary for its consolidation and maintenance. On January 25, 2023, representatives of the City of Landerneau and the Direction régionale des affaires culturelles (DRAC Bretagne) met on site to formalize this ranking.

To learn more:

Landerneau Harbour and Rohan Bridge: Epicentres of Leon’s Linen Trade

Patrimoine _linier_Bretagne_Finistère.pdf

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Order for full classification of the Rohan bridge

landerneau_classement_MH_pont_rohan_arrêté CMH signé.pdf

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The press release of the City of Landerneau

25 01 2023 - Officialisation du classement du Pont de Rohan.pdf

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