The Viaduc de Monts is a significantly big railway bridge that allows the "classic" Paris to Bordeaux-Saint-Jean line to cross the Indre River near the Domaine de Candé. Constructed between 1845 and 1848, it was one of the longest bridges in France at that time. These days most of the TGVs use the almost parallel Line Grand Vitesse which opened in 2016.
The viaduct is reported as either 708 or 751 meters long, depending on the source (I can't work out which measurement is the correct one) and comprises 59 arches. It's built from stone, with its core made of limestone rubble sourced from a quarry in Joué-lès-Tours. The facing is constructed from ashlar stone from Chauvigny, known for its aesthetic qualities.
The construction of the viaduct was overseen by engineer M. Morandière. The project faced challenges, including delays caused by floods of the Indre in 1845 and 1846, several strikes by workers demanding better working conditions, and the dismissal of Belgian workers hired alongside them. The viaduct was inaugurated on July 1, 1851, by Prince-President Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, although the line had been operational up to Poitiers for several weeks prior.
We were at Candé on Tuesday for the launch of the annual list of nature walks and events in Centre Val de Loire. Or rather, Susan was. I was having an unsuccessful shopping foray. I was only at Candé long enough to take the photo of the viaduct in winter.
**********************
As an aside... What is the French equivalent of Maplin? That's what I was looking for.
No comments:
Post a Comment