Pont Neuf
Pont Neuf features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Toulouse. Give it roughly ~20 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type bridge
- Suggested visit ~20 min
- Toulouse Toulouse guide
About Pont Neuf
Its name means New Bridge, yet locals will tell you it is the oldest bridge still standing in Toulouse, a brick and stone crossing of the Garonne finished in 1632.
The Pont Neuf carries road and foot traffic across the Garonne, joining the historic right-bank centre to the Saint-Cyprien quarter on the left. Its name translates as New Bridge, which has become one of the city's better jokes, since it is widely described as the oldest bridge still surviving in Toulouse. Planning began in 1542 with a committee of master masons and carpenters, the foundations followed in 1544, and the whole thing was not put into service until 1632. King Louis XIV formally inaugurated it in 1659.
Seven irregular, non-symmetrical arches span the river, and openings pierced through the piers let floodwater pass rather than push the structure over. That design earned its keep in 1875, when a catastrophic Garonne flood destroyed the city's newer bridges and left this one standing. Roughly 220 metres long, it was built without the houses or shops that once crowded medieval bridges, its design credited to Jacques Lemercier and Pierre Souffron.
Did you know? The name Pont Neuf translates as New Bridge, yet it is widely described as the oldest bridge still standing in Toulouse. The label is a superlative, attributed rather than measured, but it sticks.
How long is a visit to Pont Neuf?
Set aside roughly ~20 min for Pont Neuf. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Pont Neuf worth your time?
Pont Neuf is among the 13 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Toulouse, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Toulouse
Sources and further reading
Where to check the facts about Pont Neuf and read more:
Day 2 of the Toulouse in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of Pont Neuf
Preview the Toulouse tour free in the Gingerguide app.