Pont de Prunier, Steel bridge in Bouchemaine, France
Pont de Prunier is a steel bridge crossing the Maine River with a span of about 150 meters, supported by two concrete pillars and reaching a height of roughly 7 meters. Today it serves as a pedestrian and cycling crossing between Bouchemaine and Sainte-Gemmes-sur-Loire.
Built in 1908 as part of the Petit Anjou railway line connecting Angers to Candé, it enabled train traffic across the Maine. Rail service ended in 1947, after which the structure found new use.
Memorial stones near the bridge commemorate American soldiers and French Resistance fighters who died during the 1944 Liberation of Angers in the region.
The bridge is fully accessible to pedestrians and cyclists today, offering a direct path between the two riverbanks. Access is straightforward and requires no special arrangements.
During World War II, this crossing became the only remaining route into Angers after German forces destroyed other river crossings in the area. It therefore played a critical role in supply lines for the liberated city.
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