Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Pont de la Légende

The first mention of the name Sauveterre dates back to around 1120. The town was built on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Gave d'Oloron. Sauveterre's mission was to defend the southern and western borders of Béarn. The town formed a village organized around the castle. The town was an essential stopover for pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela, as the town is located on the Via Lemovizenis (Vézelay route). The fortified Legend Bridge was built in the 13th century by Gaston VII of Béarn and rebuilt in the 15th century by Gaston Fébus. Originally equipped with a simple wooden deck on stone pillars, the bridge was later reinforced with a tower and a drawbridge.