What stories could this bridge tell if it could talk? This is the Pont-Levis du Petit-Preux. It is more than just a crossing. It is a landmark steeped in local history.
This bridge, also known as the Pont du Sabotier, whispers tales of a time when Saint-Léger and Evregnies thrived with the craft of wooden shoe making. Sabotier means wooden shoe maker. The name Pont du Sabotier serves as a lasting reminder of this once-prominent local industry.
Imagine the rhythmic sounds of artisans meticulously shaping wood into sturdy footwear. The bridge would have been a silent witness to their daily lives. They would have crossed it with their wares or on their way to the market.
The Pont-Levis du Petit-Preux is part of a classified site. This includes the canal, the Espierre river, the towpath and the rows of poplar trees. These elements together create a picturesque scene that has been protected since 2000.
This canal wasn’t always here. It was built between 1840 and 1843. Its purpose was to transport Belgian coal to the industries in northern France. In 1879 the canal saw a bustling traffic of 368 barges per year.
Sadly the industrial boom had a dark side. French factories released their pollution into the canal. It became an open sewer. Today France has taken steps to clean up the canal with the Grimonpont station. This station treats the waters of the Roubaix canal. It is a continuation of the Espierre canal on the other side of the border. Belgium still needs to take similar action.
Before 1914 people swam happily in the canal. The Pont-Levis du Petit-Preux has seen both the best and worst of times. It has seen industrial growth and environmental degradation. It has seen local trade and recreational use.
Cross the Pont-Levis du Petit-Preux and you are walking on a piece of history. It connects not just two banks of a canal. It connects the past with the present. Take a moment to appreciate the bridge’s role in the story of Saint-Léger. Picture the lives of the sabotiers. Consider the journey of the coal barges. Reflect on the environmental changes. The Pont-Levis du Petit-Preux is a silent yet eloquent narrator of local heritage.