Crossing this stone bridge over the Vançon is like stepping out of time, into a remarkable natural setting. Ideal for a walk… at the end of the world!
The bridge links the hamlets of Vilhosc and St-Symphorien, both in the Entrepierres commune. Once densely populated, they were severely affected by the rural exodus, and the hamlet of St-Symphorien is no longer inhabited today.
The bridge, whose humpback shape continues the tradition of medieval bridges, is a real technical feat, given the narrowness of the roadway (2 m), its length (35 m) and its height (10 m above the torrent). It is believed to date from the 16th century, but the reference to Queen Jeanne may be evidence of an earlier existence. Tradition has it that, while staying in Salignac in 1379, Joan I gave birth to an illegitimate child, who was hidden in St-Symphorien. To buy the locals’ discretion, the Queen agreed to their request to build a bridge over the Vançon…
