Viaduc de Morlaix, Railway viaduct in Morlaix, France.
The Morlaix Viaduct is a two-level railway bridge built with nine lower arches and fourteen upper arches that rise approximately 62 meters above the valley floor. The entire structure is constructed from stone and brick, spanning across the landscape to carry trains above the town.
Construction started in 1861 and was completed in 1863, making it a significant achievement in French railway engineering during the Industrial Revolution. The design and scale demonstrated advanced techniques that influenced how bridges were built across Europe at that time.
The viaduct dominates the town's skyline and serves as a familiar landmark that shapes how residents and visitors perceive the valley below. People walk along the lower level, making the structure part of their daily routes through the town.
The lower pedestrian level is open to the public and offers a safe way to walk under the structure and see the valley from below. Visitors should keep in mind that trains operate on the upper level and that different viewing angles from various points along the base provide the best perspectives.
Some residents initially worried that the massive structure would block air circulation through the town, but this concern proved unfounded. Instead, the bridge became a defining feature of the townscape that people now appreciate and recognize.
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