In medieval times they didn't muck about. If you wanted to control passage either across a river, or along a river, you built one of these.
The Monnow Bridge, Monmouth, Wales. Built in the Late 13th Century.
The Pont Valentré, Cahors, France. Built in the mid 14th Century. Quite near to where I live.
And the Porte des Allemands, Metz, in the Lorraine N E France. Built in the13th Century.
You'd have no chance of getting under or across any of these bridges uninvited! Just imagine the loot or taxes they must have collected. Bonanza time!
Wow! I want one! In a cyber world of course since I'm pretty sure it's not going to happen in the real one.
ReplyDeleteIt's on its way (Cyber wrapped, of course).
DeleteThey're still at it, collecting the loot, Dartford being the main contributor.
ReplyDeleteThey imposed a fee to pay for the bridge, it was paid for years ago, but the money collected from the fees proved irresistible, and it's still in force.
Crossing it by motorcycle gives great pleasure - it's free !!
DeleteProbably because all the stopping, putting in neutral, getting the side stand down, taking the gloves off, lifting the visor, findind the wallet in the inside (waterproof) pocket, handing over the cash and then going through the reverse process before being able to move away takes so much time that it's not worth it due to the immensely long queues that form.......!!
My favourite is the one at Cahors.
ReplyDeleteI once stood for about an hour (on the far right hand end in photo) watching a Kingfisher catching fish. I suppose he must have been used to being watched, as he showed no timidity.
DeleteThose are nice bridges. I just happen to live about 100 feet away from a world famous bridge - reputedly the only one in Europe with shops on, apart from that one in Venice - Pulteney Bridge. My spell-checker still does not believe me about it's spelling, though.
ReplyDeleteBoth Pulteney and Ponte Vecchio (sp?) are wonderful. Sadly I've visited neither!
DeleteThey just don't build 'um like they used to!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! And i'm amazed at the engineering skills. I have problems enough assembling the simplest thing and hoping it stays together.
ReplyDeleteAnd there they stand today..still in one piece while we have to continually replace infratructure less than 40 years old.
ReplyDelete