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

Tulen Gronsky (3 months ago)
Must see. For Vincenzo Gogh fans.

Sean McDonald (12 months ago)
Lovely place to visit when its sunny, unfortunately that there was fly tipping and a burnt out moped, even so still gets a 4 star

Pieter Vijverman (15 months ago)
Nice authentic bridge in Arles as how Van Gogh painted it. However at the time of our visit, there were three motorcycle wrecks lying beside the bridge. Probably pulled out of the canal, but should be tidied up.

Mark Burton (15 months ago)
Beautiful setting and it's special to think that you are in the same place that Vincent sat to paint.

Roger Viggers (2 years ago)
A recreation of the bridge painted by van Gogh stands in a peaceful location on the outskirts of a busy town.

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