Viaduc de Laval, Railway bridge in Laval, France.
The Viaduc de Laval is a stone bridge spanning 180 meters across the Mayenne River with nine full-circle arches rising 25 meters above the water. It carries railway traffic on the Paris-Montparnasse to Brest line while offering pedestrians a separate walkway alongside its length.
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 structure demonstrates how French railway engineering shaped local infrastructure and remains a defining landmark in the town landscape. Visitors can walk along its length and observe the craftsmanship visible in each of the nine arches.
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.
Parts of the original structure were rebuilt using modern materials while other arches retain their original stonework. This creates a visible contrast between different construction eras when walking across the bridge.
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