Pont Sarrazin

Useful Information

Location:	25230 Vandoncourt. Follow D437D to Audincourt, D126 to Dasle, turn right on D480 to Vandoncourt, straight ahead on rue du Pont Sarrazin. From the end of the road 800 m/10 min hike. Alternatively park at the Belvédère de Vandoncourt, also 800 m/10 min hike. (47.4565436, 6.9153651)
Open:	no restrictions. [2026]
Fee:	free. [2026]
Classification:	Natural Bridge
Light:	n/a
Dimension:	W=8 m, H=12 m.
Guided tours:	self guided, D=1 h.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Pont Sarrazin, Tel: +33-.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

23-MAI-1912

declared a site classé (Natural Monument).

Description

Pont Sarrazin (Sarrazin Bridge, Saracen Bridge) is in geologic terms a natural bridge, in the U.S.A. such a structure is known as an arch. Located in the great karst area of the French Jura, it is obviously not one of those erosional arches, it’s a karst feature which is more or less the ruin of a cave. It is a remaining part of cave ceiling after most of the cave has eroded. The cave was formed by a spring, which actually is the resurgence of an underground river. In other words, there was retrograde erosion caused by the spring water, which dissolved, eroded, and also caused frost weathering, providing the humidity. So the bridge is actually at the end of a steep valley, called reculées in the Jura Mountains. The ongoing erosion will cause the collapse of the bridge in the future, but to extend the time until this happens it was protected by covering its deck with a nearly invisible, impermeable layer.

The spring at the foot of the bridge was used as a source of fresh water by the Japy factory at Beaucourt. It was captured at the end of the 19th century. When the factory closed in 1983, water extraction ceased. Some remnants like the old reservoir on the right bank remain though. The spring and thus the starting point of the small river are about 50 m below the bridge.

The name derives from a legend dating back to the Saracen invasions around 724 or 732. According to this legend a young girl was abducted by a Saracen horseman. She tricked him to this place where he fell from the top of the bridge and died, while she remained unharmed.

As always there are different versions of the legend. There is also a longer one.

The Saracens were halted by the frankian maior domus Karl Martel at Poitiers in 732 by defeating and killing the Arab military leader Abd ar-Rahman. Some, however, pushed on as far as Vandoncourt, where the battle between the Saracens and the Franks raged. As the young Allima tried to flee her burning home, she was abducted by a Saracen horseman. The abductor took a narrow path through the forest before the eyes of the helpless villagers. Allima recognised the path and knew it led over the arch. She decided to throw herself into the abyss, for she preferred death to slavery. As she stepped over the arch, she struggled so violently that the horse shied on the slippery ground. The Saracen let go of Allima in the hope of saving his own life, but the horse dragged its rider down with it. He struck his head on the rocks below. Miraculously, Allima landed on the reeds and moss lining the stream below, which saved her life. After regaining consciousness, Allima was taken in by refugees. Her act of resistance served as an inspiration to the entire region, which ultimately led to the invaders being driven out. For the rest of her life, Allima was regarded as a benefactor of the region.

During the barbarian invasions, the inhabitants of Vandoncourt organized the village's defense. While the villagers were sheltering in Bas des Fonds to escape the "Saracens," the barbarians set fire to the village, and one of their horsemen seized Allima, a young girl who had stayed behind to watch over her dying mother. As they crossed the Saracen Bridge, Allima leaned sharply to the side, throwing them off balance and sending them plummeting into the abyss. The "Saracen" crashed to the ground below, his horse flying over him. Allima, however, was saved by divine intervention and the reeds that lined the stream.

The bridge is pretty close to Montbéliard, only about 6 km from the city center. We recommend parking at the Belvédère de Vandoncourt. The short hike is about 800 m long and almost level. One branch of the trail crosses the bridge, so it’s actually possible to stand on top of the bridge. The space behind the bridge has some small caves, but the passages end right behind the entrance. Nevertheless, if you plan to explore, we recommend to bring a torch.