Viaduc du boulevard Auguste-Blanqui, Railway viaduct in 13th arrondissement, France.
The Boulevard Auguste-Blanqui viaduct is a steel structure that spans across multiple city streets and carries the elevated tracks of Metro Line 6. Large metal pillars support the entire construction and rise noticeably above the surrounding buildings.
The viaduct was built in the late 1800s when Paris was modernizing its infrastructure to serve a growing population. This structure was part of a larger effort to build the metro system, which fundamentally changed how people moved around the city.
The metal pillars display decorative features like garlands and cornucopias that show how technical structures were made to look attractive during this period. These details tell you something about Paris and how it valued both function and beauty in public works.
The viaduct is located between Glacière and Corvisart stations and is easy to see from either stop. Visit during daytime hours to get the best views of the structure and see how it sits in relation to the neighborhood.
The structure displays a rare blend of industrial metal engineering and deliberate ornamental touches that most people pass by without noticing. This combination reveals that builders of that era viewed technical structures not just as functional solutions but as visual contributions to the city.
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