Pont suspendu sur la Durance, Historical suspension bridge in Mallemort and Mérindol, France.
The suspension bridge over the Durance connects two French regions and measures about 320 meters long with a main span of roughly 100 meters. Steel towers support the structure with wire cables arranged in a distinctive pattern that you can see from the walkway below.
This bridge was built between 1844 and 1848 and represents the first generation of metal bridges in France using wire bundle technology. After a major flood in 1886, the structure received technical reinforcements to improve its stability and durability.
The name reflects its location spanning the river between two regions, and visitors can still see how it expresses the historical connection between Bouches-du-Rhône and Vaucluse. Today people use it as a walking and cycling route, experiencing it as a symbol of regional engineering achievement.
The bridge is now only for walkers and cyclists since it closed to vehicles in 1980 and has been converted into a pedestrian and cycling path. You can access it from either side of the river, making it easy to walk or cycle with views over the valley below.
The original wooden deck has survived since the structure was built and shows the craftsmanship of 19th-century construction. This rare preservation makes it an exceptional example of early iron bridge engineering.
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