In the heart of Languedoc, gateway to the Hérault valley, the Maison du Grand Site welcomes you to the Grand Site de France, Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert - Gorges de l'Hérault, between Aniane and the Pont du Diable.
Each Devil's Bridge has its legend.
In the 11th century, in spite of the combined efforts of the abbeys of Aniane and Gellone to allow the crossing of the Hérault Gorges, every morning the monks and the population could only witness the destruction of the works carried out the day before.
They then decided to appeal to Guilhem, their patron saint, to put an end to this systematic night sabotage.
The latter, recognizing the work of the Devil, disguised in a goat costume, then decides to make a pact with the latter.
"Satan, rather than confronting us here, let us try to settle our dispute intelligently. »
"For once, I agree with you, Guilhem! Then listen to me carefully. I propose to build the strongest bridge there is in three days. In exchange, you agree to give me the soul of one of your servant dogs. The soul of the first one to cross the bridge will be mine and I will take him with me to the depths of the underworld. »
Once the work was finished, everyone crowded around the bridge, but no one dared to cross it.
Then Guilhem pulled a bone out from under his jacket, threw it across the bridge and the dog that accompanied him chased after him, crossing the bridge belly down.
"Satan, you see that I respect my commitments, Guilhem said to him. Three days ago you asked me for the soul of one of my servant dogs. Well, here is the most faithful of all. »
Mad with anger at being fooled in this way, the Devil tried to destroy the bridge but, in accordance with his promise, the incomparable solidity of the structure enabled him to resist his assaults.
In spite of this, he threw himself into the waters of the Hérault and dug the black abyss in his fall.
Sometimes, in times of flood, the Devil's anger seems to awaken and his howls rise from the bottom of the abyss.
Thus, for many, many years, pilgrims and passers-by who crossed the bridge would carry stones and throw them into the river in the hope of leaving the Devil at the bottom.
Sometimes, in times of flood, the Devil's anger seems to awaken and his howls rise from the bottom of the abyss.
Thus, for many, many years, pilgrims and passers-by who crossed the bridge would carry stones and throw them into the river in the hope of leaving the Devil at the bottom.
Considered to be one of the oldest medieval bridges in France, it has been classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO as part of the Way of Saint James of Compostela in France since 1998.
La Maison du Grand Site Pont du Diable
34150 Aniane
Tel: 04 67 56 41 97 from April to November
Tel: 04 67 57 58 83 all year round
oti@saintguilhem-valleeherault.fr
www.saintguilhem-valleeherault.fr
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator
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