Philatelic Document - Châtellerault, Vienne

Spanning the Vienne River, the Henri IV Bridge connects Châtellerault to its western suburb, Châteauneuf, replacing earlier bridges—first stone, then wooden—that have been documented since the 11th century and were severely damaged by conflicts and violent floods. In 1564, King Charles IX commissioned a study for the construction of a sturdy bridge. It would take 44 years and three successive kings before its completion could be celebrated in 1609, under the leadership of Charles Androuet du Cerceau and his son René. It measures 144 meters long and 21 meters wide and was designed to support residential buildings, which were never actually built. Resting on nine basket-handle arches topped with cow’s horns, its eight piers are four meters thick. Originally, the structure was fortified. On the city side, two square towers stood guard; they were demolished in the 20th century because they obstructed traffic. On the suburb side, the towers—which still exist—are round, 24 meters high, and feature a semicircular moat. Demolished in 1824, a central pavilion with a monumental gate and a drawbridge connected these two towers. They served to control access and collect the bridge toll at the city’s entrance. Over time, they also served as a prison, housing for firefighters, and an archaeological museum… The bridge was designated a historic monument in 1913. Threatened with destruction by 12 metric tons of dynamite planted by the retreating German army, the structure was saved through the efforts of Subprefect Pierre-Marcel Wiltzer and Police Commissioner Charles Bichat, thanks to negotiations conducted on August 31 and September 1, 1944. Long the only route crossing from one bank to the other and an architectural emblem of the city—of which it is the most famous monument—this bridge has withstood the ravages of time. Recent restoration work, carried out by the Vienne Department, ensures that it can look forward to the 21st century with confidence. Marie-Claude Albert and Jean-Luc Gillard Châtelleraudais History and Archives Center

Timbre : création et gravure Louis Boursier d'ap. photo Alamy/hemis.fr Document philatélique, cachet d'oblitération : création Louis Boursier d'ap. photo Soudan E/Alpaca/Andia.fr. Texte : Marie-Claude Albert et Jean-Luc Gillard, Centre Châtelleraudais Histoire et Archives.