Le pont de Rohan

Situated at the eastern end of the harbour of Brest, Landerneau has a curious feature: one of its shores is in Léon, while the other is in Cornouaille! The best way to bridge the gap between these two regions is to stroll across the Pont de Rohan. This 500-year-old bridge is one of the last inhabited bridges in Europe. Although a few bridges in Europe are still standing, only the Pont de Rohan has to contend with the phenomenon of the tides every day! At 67 metres long, it forms the boundary between the sea to the west and the river to the east. Landerneau has a rich architectural heritage that bears witness to its prosperous past. From the 16th to the 18th century, many shipowners made their fortune in the linen trade, which was exported from the town's port. The beautiful facades of their town houses still give the town centre an undeniable charm. They are, however, less famous than the inhabited bridge, to which Landerneau owes part of its fame. This is hardly surprising: although inhabited bridges were very common in the Middle Ages, they have now almost completely disappeared. Built in 1510 by Jean II de Rohan and comprising six arches, it first housed a mill, a chapel and even a prison, before dwellings, topped by their owners' shops, were built there from the 17th century onwards. For many years, it was the only way to cross the River Élorn at Landerneau! This gave it a strategic importance for trade. It wasn't until 1930 that the construction of the Albert Louppe Bridge between Brest and Plougastel-Daoulas improved passage between Cornouaille and Léon! In August 1944, the German army planned to destroy the inhabited bridge at Landerneau, but fortunately failed in its attempt... It wasn't until 1958 that the Caërnarfon bridge was finally built a few dozen metres further on. The Pont de Rohan then became a pedestrianised area with numerous restaurants, cafés and shops. The Tourist Office organises flash tours of the inhabited bridge (30min) in July and August. During the school holidays, follow the town's volunteer guides on a tour of Landerneau's historic centre.