Altier viaduct, Railway bridge in Villefort and Pourcharesses, France
The Altier viaduct is a railway bridge between Villefort and Pourcharesses featuring two levels of arches constructed from rubble masonry. The structure spans 257 meters in length and rises 73 meters high.
Engineers completed the viaduct in 1869 as a key railway connection during France's industrial expansion. The construction of the Villefort dam in 1965 later submerged the lower section beneath the reservoir.
The viaduct connects two communities and stands as a visible reminder of 19th century engineering ambition in the region. Visitors can observe how such structures once shaped the landscape and linked distant places.
The viaduct is best viewed from the reservoir shores or from a distance, since the lower section remains submerged. Visitors should come during warmer months when pathways around the lake are accessible and easy to walk.
The structure ranks among France's tallest masonry viaducts, with four arches at the base and eleven above showcasing 19th century engineering skill. This distinctive arrangement reveals how builders distributed the weight of passing trains across multiple levels.
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