Oléron Bridge, Bridge in Bourcefranc-le-Chapus, France
The Oléron Bridge spans 2,862 meters across the Coureau d'Oléron strait, connecting the mainland to Oléron Island through 46 continuous sections.
Inaugurated on June 21, 1966, this structure held the title of longest bridge in France until 1974, when the Saint-Nazaire Bridge surpassed it.
The bridge represents a significant connection for the Atlantic coast region, linking the mainland to Oléron, the second-largest French metropolitan island after Corsica.
The bridge structure contains essential infrastructure within its hollow deck, including a water pipeline, electrical power lines, telephone cables, and fiber optic connections.
The construction method using prestressed concrete beams was revolutionary in the 1960s, achieving an installation rate of eight linear meters per day.
Location: Bourcefranc-le-Chapus
Location: Le Château-d'Oléron
Inception: 1966
Length: 2,862 m
Longest Span: 79 m
GPS coordinates: 45.85310,-1.18000
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:37
Oléron Island, the largest island in mainland France after Corsica, features a military, maritime, and natural heritage reflecting its strategic position facing the Atlantic Ocean. This Charente island, connected to the mainland since 1966 by a nearly three-kilometer-long bridge, houses fortifications built under Louis XIV, such as the Citadel of Château d'Oléron and Fort Louvois, as well as the famous Fort Boyard positioned on its sandbank offshore. The Chassiron Lighthouse, standing at forty-six meters high, marks the northern tip of the island and guides ships through the waters of the Pertuis d'Antioche. Beyond its defensive legacy, the island offers various natural areas where sandy beaches, pine forests, and salt marshes alternate. Saint-Trojan-les-Bains extends its wooded shoreline to the south, while Boyardville features a protected coast on its eastern side. Visitors also observe oyster farming along the La Baudissière channel and explore the colorful huts that house artist workshops at the port of Château d'Oléron. The Saltworks Museum traces the history of salt extraction, a resource that shaped the local economy for centuries.
Citadelle du Château d'Oléron
3.6 km
Fort Louvois
630 m
Château de la Gataudière
5.5 km
Petit Train de Saint-Trojan
2.8 km
Église Saint-Pierre-de-Sales de Marennes
6.7 km
Plage de Gatseau
5.4 km
Cité de l'Huître
6.8 km
Marais du Galon d'or
6.4 km
Plage de la Giraudière
5.5 km
Plage de la Cèpe
6.4 km
Dolmen d'Ors
1.7 km
Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption du Château-d'Oléron
4.2 km
Musée de l'huître
630 m
Église Saint-Trojan de Saint-Trojan-les-Bains
2.5 km
Hôtel particulier, 57 rue de la République, Marennes
6.8 km
Pont Napoléon
6.5 km
Maison de Richelieu
6.6 km
Fontaine, place de la république
3.9 km
Plage de Marennes
5.2 km
Hôtel des fermes
6.6 km
Petite plage de Saint-Trojan
2.6 km
Le Mus du Loup
6.6 km
Place Brochard
6.1 km
Grande plage (naturiste)
5.7 km
Église Saint-Louis de Bourcefranc-le-Chapus
3.6 km
La Cèpe
6.6 km
Protestant church of Marennes
6.8 km
Plage du Soleil
3 kmReviews
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