Valentré Bridge lit up blue for Mastocytosis Day on 20 October

Valentré Bridge (Pont Valentré) in Cahors lit up blue on 20 October 2026 for International Mastocytosis Day. The City of Cahors used the medieval landmark to support La Voix de la Mastocytose and raise awareness of rare diseases.

Blue lighting at Valentré Bridge marked Mastocytosis Day

The illumination was announced on 17 October 2026 by regional news outlet Medialot. Its report said the city would light the bridge blue on Tuesday 20 October, linking the display to the international day dedicated to mastocytosis and to the association La Voix de la Mastocytose. The announcement named the bridge and Cahors together, making the lighting a place-specific public awareness event rather than a general city campaign.

The city said the display was intended to give greater visibility to people living with rare diseases, particularly children and their families. The report also connected the initiative with calls to inform the public, support research and improve medical support. The announcement of the blue lighting was published before the 20 October event.

A medieval bridge linked to Cahors history and UNESCO

The blue display placed a current health-awareness message against a structure whose history reaches back to the early fourteenth century. The first stone was laid in 1308, according to the Cahors tourism office, and construction continued for almost 70 years. The three towers were completed around 1380.

The bridge extends for 172 metres and contains eight arches and three towers. It has been pedestrian-only since 1995, while its place within the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the Routes of Santiago de Compostela dates from 1998. Those fixed characteristics explain why a change in illumination can alter the appearance of a familiar crossing without changing access to it. A regional tourism profile records the bridge’s construction date, dimensions, pedestrian status and UNESCO connection.

The landmark is also entering a longer conservation period. The Cahors Valley tourism office says a major restoration project is planned between 2026 and 2031. The blue lighting therefore formed a short public message around a monument that is simultaneously being maintained as part of Cahors’s historic fabric.

Visiting Valentré Bridge: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The blue lighting took place on 20 October 2026 for International Mastocytosis Day; it was a visual display rather than a separate exhibition inside the bridge.
• The event did not announce a closure or altered entrance. The pedestrian crossing remains the relevant form of access, and the bridge has been pedestrian-only since 1995.
• The bridge stands at 571 Allée des Soupirs in Cahors. The regional tourism authority places it less than 10 minutes on foot from Cahors railway station.
• Visitors encounter a 172-metre pedestrian crossing with eight arches and three towers above the Lot. The structure includes medieval defensive features and uneven historic masonry.
• French is the official language of France and the national currency is the euro.

Searching for Valentré Bridge on social platforms

These links open searches for Valentré Bridge on each platform.

Frequently asked questions about Valentré Bridge

When did Valentré Bridge light up for Mastocytosis Day?

The City of Cahors scheduled the blue illumination for 20 October 2026, International Mastocytosis Day.

Where is Valentré Bridge and how do you get there?

It is at 571 Allée des Soupirs in Cahors, less than 10 minutes on foot from Cahors railway station according to the regional tourism authority.

What is Valentré Bridge?

It is a 172-metre medieval pedestrian bridge with eight arches and three towers, built from 1308 and included in the UNESCO World Heritage listing in 1998.