Bordermarkers on bridges

The bordermarkers of the Pyrenees : other bm's - on bridges

The main focus of my project are the numbered esfr-bordermarkers, fitting in the 1-602 sequence. Unnumbered bordermarkers and crosses on the current esfr-borderline are included when information is available.

But there's more to find along the border: other objects and signs which mark the border. This pages handles some 'borderbridges'.

The 6 bridges between Hendaye and Irun

(Information and pictures kindly provided by Jacques Koleck and Javier Martínez Ruiz)

This is an old postcard of the - once - most important international bridge between Hendaye and Irún.

In the middle (hardly to see) there are two posts with the arms of France and Spain.

They are mentioned in the Bayonne treaty of 1856 and as such could be considered as the first bordermarkers of the esfr-delimitation.

This old postcard shows them better.

These posts still exist but apparently on its successor.

Another picture.

And on this one the foot more in detail.

Nowaday there are more bridges crossing the Bidassoa.
Jacques Koleck sent me a lot of photos of those bridges.

At present there are 6 bridges.

The one (nr 1) with the train is the most western one and is a railwaybridge for international trains.

It contains beautiful sculptures like this Spanish blason.

This picture is taken from the third bridge and shows the second and the first bridge.

The second bridge is also a railway-bridge (one track) and is used by local trains.

It's called: "pont du topo"

View of the second (right) and third (left) bridge.

This is a pillar of the second bridge.

The 'weapon' contains: A XII ( = Alphonse XII, king of Spain)

and this is another pillar of the second bridge.

On this zoom-in we can see the letters RF (République française)

This is the third bridge, nowadays only for footpassengers. We're looking towards spain.

To the right we see: bridge nr. 2

At bridge nr 3, we find back the old posts with the arms of France and Spain. We are looking towards France.

I think that this bridge is the successor of the original one from the old postcards. Javier Martínez Ruiz says that this one was constructed in 1916.

Jacques Koleck proposes to call it the "Vieux pont Saint Jacques".

Zoom-in, it's a Spanish weapon.

This is the second one (still looking towards France)

Zoomin of the Spanish weapon.

Close-up from the other side.

This is a French weapon: we can see the letters RF (République française)

The fourth bridge is the broadest one. It was constructed in 1966 and is called: "pont de St Jacques".

Jacques Koleck proposes: "Nouveau pont Saint Jacques"

In the middle we find this bordermarker.

From some distance

This is the fifth bridge ("pont de Behovia"), photo retrieved from Google Streetview.

The rusty metal post seems atypical and might have been used for a some bordermarker-sign.