Stephen Branley's photos with the keyword: 1247

The old bridge of Orthez over the Gave de Pau was built in the 13th century on the orders of Gaston VII de Moncade when he made Orthez the capital of Béarn; it connected the city centre to the suburbs. In 1274 the bridge had a single span and two towers, by 1589 there was only one. Today it is well known for its single tower and unequal arches...

At each side of the towers were wooden decks that could be withdrawn if the bridge came under attack. Which it did twice; in August 1569 by the Protestant Huguenot troops of Montgommery after the battle of Orthez where the attacking force threw the Catholic priests from one of the windows in the towers into the raging waters of the Gave de Pau...

In February 1814 the forces of the Duke of Wellington attacked the retreating troops of Napoleon Bonaparte where 45 rearguard troops of the rearguard army of Marshal Soult resisted continued attacks for a day and eventually tried to blow up the bridge but failed, the assault resulted in a partial rebuilding and widening of the structure...