The Bridge of Avignon seems to have been one of the first constructed by the fraternity of the _Hospitaliers pontifs_, which was founded in the twelfth century for the double object of building bridges and succouring travellers. The head of the order at the time of the building of the Rhone bridge was St. Bénézet. It must have numbered architects of ability among its members, for the construction of the Bridge of Avignon is very remarkable. Each of the elliptical arches is composed of four independent arches in simple juxtaposition one with another. This device ensures elasticity, and as a consequence stability. The solidarity of the whole is rendered complete by the masonry of the spandrils, which recall the architectural portions of the aqueduct, known as the _Pont du Gard_; its width is about 16 feet. The arches spring from piers furnished on either face with acute spurs designed to break the force of the stream and the impact of floating ice in the winter. The spandril above each pier is pierced with a round arch, to give free passage to the water during those floods which at times completely submerge the piers. The bridge in its present ruined condition has only four arches. On the pier nearest to the left bank the ancient chapel, dedicated to St. Nicholas, is still standing. Access to it is obtained by means of a flight of corbelled steps rising from the foundation to the entrance, and by an overhanging landing-stage, resting at one end against the pier, at the other against the flank of the arch. [Illustration: 196. BRIDGE OF MONTAUBAN, KNOWN AS THE _PONT DES CONSULS_] The old bridge at Carcassonne seems to be contemporary with that of Avignon, but its arches are semi-circular, their keystones are bound into the intrados, and their piers are spurred to the level of the platform, where they form recesses or refuges, which the narrowness of the bridge rendered very necessary. Among bridges of the thirteenth century we may mention that at Béziers, where the arches, both pointed and semi-circular, resemble those of Carcassonne in construction; but here the piers only rise above the summers of the arches by the height of two or three courses, and their spandrils are pierced to give free passage to the current during floods. The bridge which spanned the Rhone at St. Savournin du Port, known as the _Pont St. Esprit_, was the work of a Clunisian abbot about 1265. It resembled the Bridge of Avignon in the construction of the piers with their pierced spandrils; the arches, however, were semi-circular. The platform, which is some 16 feet across, was barred at either end by toll-gates; that nearest to the little town was connected with the _tête de pont_, which, in after times, was incorporated with the fortress commanding the course of the Rhone above the bridge. [Illustration: 197. BRIDGE OF CAHORS, KNOWN AS THE PONT DE VALENTRÉ]