Role of the Church

Church as road overseer

In the Middle Ages, the Church frequently assumed responsibility for the building and conservation of bridges, partly in the form of bridge brotherhoods (fratres pontis). Bridge-building for pilgrims and travelling merchants flourished from the 11th to the 13th century. There are religious legends surrounding many bridges similar to that about the Pont d'Avignon. Bridge chapels demonstrate the omnipresence of the Church.