The Pont Valentré was built in the 1300s, one of several bridges designed to not only allow for travel across the River Lot, but also to serve to fortify the city.

Local legend has it that the work on the bridge was going too slowly, so the architect made a deal with the devil. The devil would help finish the bridge. In exchange, when the bridge was complete, he would get the architect's soul. The devil agreed to do whatever he was asked to help finish it.

As the bridge approached completion, the architect asked the devil to fetch some water so that the final stone could be put in place. But he had to fetch the water in a sieve. After many fruitless efforts, the devil admitted defeat, and the architect kept his soul.

But not to be outdone, it's said that the devil returned every night to remove the final stone that the masons had put in place.

When the bridge was restored in the 1870s, the architect paid homage to the tale by including a small image of the devil on the roof of one of the towers.

The bridge no longer supports car traffic, and it's a lovely place to take a walk and enjoy views of the River Lot and the town of Cahors. The park area as you approach the bridge is planted with grapevines, a reminder of the importance of wine to Cahors.

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