Pont de Pornic, Railway bridge in Pirmil district, Nantes, France
The Pont de Pornic is a 253-meter railway bridge over the Loire River built with metal and masonry elements that connects Nantes with western France. The structure carries a train line on one side and repurposes the former second track as a cycling path on the other.
The bridge was built in the 1870s for the Nantes-État to La Roche-sur-Yon railway line as part of early railway expansion in the region. It was substantially reconstructed after damage from 1944 bombings and has maintained its restored form since then.
The bridge connects two neighborhoods and serves daily users on foot, by bicycle, and by train, becoming part of the city's everyday rhythm. It is a place where different modes of transportation coexist peacefully and crossing the river shapes how residents and visitors move through the area.
Visitors can cross the bridge on foot or by bicycle using the cycling path while trains run on the parallel track. The best times for walking or cycling are during quieter periods when train traffic is lighter.
From the Trentemoult area, the bridge frames the former Beghin-Say sugar factory, creating an industrial landscape that connects visitors to the city's manufacturing heritage. This relationship between modern transport and historic factory architecture offers a rare visual glimpse into the area's past.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
