Passerelle Nelson Mandela, Bicycle and pedestrian bridge in La Rochelle, France.
The steel and concrete structure extends 300 meters across the water, featuring an asymmetrical design with a main span of 90 meters.
The bridge project received funding of 3 million euros in 2014 and earned recognition with the équerre d'argent architecture award in 2017.
The bridge bears the name of Nelson Mandela, connecting different neighborhoods while promoting values of unity and accessibility in the urban landscape.
The bridge reduces travel times by fifteen minutes and includes gentle slopes for individuals with mobility needs, maintaining a 7-meter clearance above water.
A single 28-meter pylon rises from the water, creating a distinctive silhouette that aligns with the surrounding tree lines.
Location: La Rochelle
Address: All. des Tamaris, 17000 La Rochelle, France 17000 La Rochelle
GPS coordinates: 46.15188,-1.16068
Latest update: March 25, 2025 16:34
La Rochelle documents over seven centuries of French maritime history through its medieval fortifications and Renaissance architecture. The old port is guarded by three stone towers from the 14th and 15th centuries - the Saint Nicolas Tower, the Tour de la Chaîne, and the Lantern Tower - which once controlled access to the sea. The Great Clock Gate from 1476 connects the harbor front to the old city streets. The city center preserves buildings from the 16th through 18th centuries, with arcaded passages along Rue du Palais and Rue des Merciers. The Fontaine des Pilori dates from the 16th century, while the City Hall features Renaissance facades from 1595. The Musée du Nouveau Monde examines La Rochelle's transatlantic trade connections. The Les Minimes marina now serves more than 5,000 boats, making it one of the largest yacht harbors on the French Atlantic coast. The modern Passerelle Nelson Mandela, opened in 1993, carries pedestrians across the main harbor. Beyond the city center, the bridge to Île de Ré extends roughly 2 miles (3 kilometers) across the Bay of Biscay.
Aquarium de La Rochelle
797 m
Tour Saint-Nicolas
706 m
Vieux-Port de La Rochelle
701 m
Tour de la Lanterne
511 m
Tour de la Chaîne
664 m
Musée maritime de La Rochelle
783 m
Grosse Horloge
880 m
Parc Animalier Charles-Édouard Beltremieux
626 m
La Coursive/Scène Nationale La Rochelle
696 m
France I
692 m
Prefecture hotel of Charente-Maritime
680 m
Musée des modèles réduits
339 m
Clocher Saint-Jean de la Rochelle
641 m
Parc Charruyer
595 m
Plage de la Concurrence
340 m
Casino Municipal
613 m
Église des Carmes
731 m
Bastion du Gabut
661 m
Porte des deux moulins de la rochelle
402 m
Hôtel Leclerc, La Rochelle
834 m
Hôtel particulier, 15 rue Verdière, La Rochelle
791 m
Villa Alsace, La Rochelle
583 m
Slipway
710 m
Admiral Duperré
884 m
The Wave
242 m
World War I Memorial
868 m
La Rochelle front range light
787 m
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