Old Bridge, Albi: Overall view

The Old Bridge (Pont Vieux) is still in use after almost a millennium. Originally built in stone (in 1035), then clad with brick, it rests on eight arches and is 151 m long. In the 14th century, it was fortified and reinforced with a drawbridge, and houses were built on the piers. It was a toll bridge serving the great Lyon road and had a fortified toll gate in the middle (no longer extant). It was rebuilt for modern traffic in 1820 and the bed was widened and the stone clad with brick.