Langlois Bridge, Arles, France - SpottingHistory.com

Langlois Bridge was a drawbridge in Arles, which was the subject of several paintings by Vincent van Gogh in 1888. Being one of eleven drawbridges built by a Dutch engineer along the channel from Arles to Port-de-Bouc, this bridge might have reminded the artist of his homeland.

New canals were opened up in southern France as they were needed to expand the network of canals. In the 19th century a canal was built from Arles to Bouc, located on the Mediterranean sea. Locks and bridges were built, too, to manage water and road traffic.

In 1930, the original drawbridge was replaced by a reinforced concrete structure which, in 1944, was blown up by the retreating Germans who destroyed all the other bridges along the canal except for the one at Fos. The Fos Bridge was dismatled in 1959 with a view to relocating it on the site of the Langlois Bridge but as a result of structural difficulties, it was finally reassembled at Montcalde Lock several kilometers away from the original site.

A reconstructed bridge of the Langlois Bridge, named Pont Van Gogh (Van Gogh bridge), recognizing the works that Van Gogh made of the bridge, is owned by the Arles tourist board.

Vincent van Gogh made several paintings, a watercolor and drawings of the Langlois bridge in a series now titled Langlois Bridge at Arles.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Barrie New (3 years ago)
Rode past here while doing the ViaRhona. There is a copy of VanGogh's painting to see how it appeared in his time (1888). The bridge has not changed since and it's nice to compare the then to the now. There is a more modern bridge next to it that many people take photos from. Worth a visit if you're in the area and an art buff.

RAFA S (3 years ago)
It is worth to take a long walk from the city center to here along the river

Wally Realini (3 years ago)
Not easy to find but worth looking for. Visit this bridge and feel the history

Luc lond (3 years ago)
A pleasant walk from the centre of Arles. Be careful of slums and a misleading map given out by the tourism office.

Lorraine Phillips (4 years ago)
Very pretty area with a touh of art history. Not too many people even on weekends. It must have something to do with the lack of facilities. No toilet but there's a gas station on the way out.

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