Viaduc de Laval, Railway bridge in Laval, France.
The Viaduc de Laval is a granite railway viaduct 180 metres long and 25 metres high, carrying the Paris-Montparnasse to Brest line over the Mayenne. Its nine round arches rest on thick rectangular piers and are framed by curved stone voussoirs; a low stone parapet edges the deck, where metal poles hold overhead wires. A pedestrian walkway is installed on the piers.
Engineers Eugène Caillaux and Jules Hunebelle built the bridge between 1854 and 1856 to connect Paris with Brittany through Laval. Allied bombing in June 1944 caused significant damage to the structure, which was subsequently reconstructed.
The viaduct carries the Paris-Montparnasse to Brest line over the Mayenne, and a pedestrian walkway is mounted on its piers. Its granite came from quarries at Sacé in Mayenne, and the nine arches are built of rectangular blocks with curved voussoirs framing each opening.
The bridge is accessible from both sides of the riverbank and a paved pedestrian path allows visitors to traverse it completely. The best time to visit is during daylight to appreciate the architectural details and the way light reflects off the water below.
The viaduct carries nine arches, but the pedestrian walkway is mounted on the piers rather than on the deck, so walkers cross beside the tracks at pier level. The granite came from quarries at Sacé in Mayenne. American bombs on 15 June 1944 brought down part of the deck and one arch.
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