Viaduc de Rocherolles, Railway bridge in Bersac-sur-Rivalier, France
The Viaduc de Rocherolles is a stone railway bridge spanning the Gartempe valley, built with twelve arches arranged in two levels of solid construction. The structure combines massive stone piers that support the weight of passing trains while displaying the engineering approach of its era.
The structure was built between 1852 and 1854 to enable growing railway connections between Paris and Toulouse. Its completion marked an important moment in the development of France's transport network.
The name comes from the Rocherolles plateau nearby, and walking along the base reveals how the structure shaped local identity as a symbol of progress. Travelers passing overhead on trains became witnesses to this feat of human engineering set within the natural landscape.
The structure sits on the railway line from Orleans to Montauban and can be viewed from various vantage points in the surrounding area. Visitors walking along local paths get the best view of the arches and the bridge's position above the valley.
When it opened in 1856, this structure stood at roughly 54 meters high and held the record as France's tallest railway bridge. This achievement made it a symbol of the nation's technological ambition in the mid-1800s.
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