Roman bridge at Fréchou

On my right is the path of Henry IV and on my left an ancient Gallo-Roman villa. My three arches have been carrying the waters of the Osse for centuries, my massive walls act as a regulator of the river's level, and I direct the water to the millrace. Who am I? The Roman bridge of Fréchou, of course, and I am currently undergoing a facelift!

The Roman bridge at Fréchou seems to have nothing Roman about it except its name! It should really be called the "Romieu bridge," meaning pilgrims' bridge, as it most likely dates back to the 13th century and is located on one of the alternative routes to Santiago de Compostela. A "roumieu" originally referred to a pilgrim traveling to Rome, but the term was later applied to all pilgrims.

Wheel marks visible on the bridge and the stone-paved roadway attest to the importance of this thoroughfare. Some people still remember herds of cows crossing the bridge! Cleared about twenty years ago thanks to an association and young volunteers during international work camps, floods and ice jams eventually weakened its structure.

This is a long-term project that requires significant funding. To raise the funds needed for this restoration, the municipality of Le Fréchou has asked the Fondation de France to organize a fundraising campaign. You too can make a donation to preserve the small heritage sites of Albret at www.fondation-patrimoine.org/les-projets/pont-romain-du-frechou.

Its restoration will stabilize the banks by maintaining the upstream water level, facilitating the pumping of rivers, which is essential for agriculture in the Néracais region. After the installation of a footbridge, the hiking trail linking the dam bridge, the Osse valley, and the Peyroutet orchid site will be reinforced and will join the Albret hiking trail loops!