L'Estellier Footbridge, Steel footbridge in Verdon Gorge, France

L'Estellier Footbridge is a 45-metre steel arch over the Verdon River, with a three-dimensional structure and a V-shaped cross-section. Its flat deck carries a shallow arched truss of crisscrossing bars in triangular panels, and the far end is partly hidden by foliage. It is the only footbridge across the river.

Construction of the present footbridge began in autumn 1999, replacing the earlier crossing swept away by the centennial flood of 5 November 1994. It was officially opened in 2004. Because no road reaches the site, the steel components were made in a workshop, flown in by helicopter and assembled on the spot.

The bridge is the only pedestrian crossing over the Verdon, so hikers walking the riverside paths use it constantly. It links the Imbut trail, downstream of the Cavaliers cliff, with the Martel trail and the Chalet de la Maline, about an hour on foot.

The bridge is reached by hiking trails starting from either La Palud-sur-Verdon or Aiguines. Depending on the season and conditions, some routes may be restricted, so visitors should check ahead.

Because no road reaches the site, the steel sections were fabricated in a workshop, flown in by helicopter and assembled on the spot. The project was designed by architect Dominique Putz, with structural calculations by engineer Alain Ranvier. The deck is a 45-metre steel arch with a three-dimensional, V-shaped cross-section.