Pont-canal de Barberey-Saint-Sulpice

The Pont-canal de Barberey-Saint-Sulpice is a cast iron structure that carries a canal across the Seine River, allowing boats to travel above the waterway below. The bridge rests on solid stone piers and features a metal deck that forms a channel for vessels passing through.

The structure was designed in the 1840s and represents an early milestone in French metal bridge construction. Its creation was part of a larger effort to modernize the country's waterway network and improve regional connections.

The structure connects two major waterways and reflects the ambition of 19th-century France to link its inland regions through modern infrastructure. Today, it serves both as a working canal crossing and a pathway for local walkers and cyclists.

The site is easily accessible on foot, and visitors can walk directly across the structure or along a nearby pathway to view it from different angles. The surrounding terrain is relatively flat and straightforward to navigate, making it suitable for visitors of all abilities.

The structure combines metal construction with massive stone foundations, showing how engineering of the period blended new materials with traditional techniques. Its continued use today makes it one of the few surviving examples of early French metal infrastructure still serving its original purpose.

Location: Barberey-Saint-Sulpice

Location: Aube

Inception: 1846

Architects: Pierre-Olivier Lebasteur

GPS coordinates: 48.33560,4.04577

Latest update: December 9, 2025 20:25