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Cobble

A rock fragment between 64 and 256 millimeters in diameter, especially one that has been naturally rounded. Also called cobblestone.

Cobbles set in sand have the environmental advantage of being permeable paving, and of flexing (rather than cracking) with movements in the ground.

Cobblestoned streets gradually gave way to macadam roads, and later to tarmac, and finally to asphalt at the beginning of the 20th century. However, cobblestones are often retained in historic areas, even for streets with vehicular traffic. Many older villages and cities in Europe still are paved with cobblestones. In recent decades cobblestones have become a popular material for paving newly pedestrianised streets in Europe. In this case the noisy nature of the surface is an advantage, as pedestrians can hear approaching vehicles.

Pavers, generally in the form of pre-cast concrete blocks, are often used for aesthetic purposes, or sometimes at port facilities that see long-duration pavement loading. Pavers are rarely used in areas that see high-speed vehicle traffic.

Cobblestone pavements were once common in urban areas throughout the world, but due to their high manual labor requirements they are in some countries typically only maintained for historical reasons, while in other countries they are still common in local streets. They make maintenance of cabling and pipelines under the pavement easier but are also harder to walk on.

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