Garabit viaduct

#82 among destinations in France

Bridge, Top attraction

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Facts and practical information

The Garabit Viaduct is a marvel of 19th-century engineering, gracefully arching over the Truyère River in southern France. Completed in 1884, this wrought iron railway bridge was designed by Gustave Eiffel, the same mastermind behind the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris. The viaduct stands as a testament to the industrial era's bold architectural ambitions and Eiffel's innovative spirit.

Spanning 565 meters in length and soaring 122 meters above the river, the Garabit Viaduct was the world's highest bridge at the time of its completion. Its red-painted structure, comprising of a series of arches supporting a slender deck, was an exceptional feat, pushing the boundaries of the materials and construction techniques of the day.

The bridge's elegant form not only serves a functional purpose, allowing trains to cross the rugged terrain, but it also blends seamlessly with the picturesque landscape, attracting tourists and engineering enthusiasts alike. Despite its age, the viaduct remains in active use, a testament to the durability of Eiffel's design.

Local name: Viaduc de Garabit Completed: 1884 (140 years ago)Length: 1854 ftCoordinates: 44°58'29"N, 3°10'39"E

Location

Auvergne-Rhône-AlpesFrance

Contact

+33 4 71 23 43 32

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Day trips

Garabit viaduct – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Château d'Alleuze, Saint-Flour Cathedral, Lac de Grandval, St. Vincent Church.

4.4 miW
Forts and castles
Château d'Alleuze, Alleuze
113 min walk • The Château d'Alleuze is a ruined castle situated in the commune of Alleuze, in the Cantal département of France. Built in the 13th century by the constables of Auvergne, it belonged to the bishops of Clermont. During the Hundred Years War it was seized for the English by Bernard de Garlan.
5.7 miNW
Church
Saint-Flour Cathedral, Saint-Flour
146 min walk • Saint-Flour Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church located in the town of Saint-Flour in the Auvergne, France. The dedication is to Saint Peter and Saint Florus, the first bishop of Lodève, who is also the eponym of the town.
4.7 miSW
Nature, Natural attraction, Lake
Lac de Grandval
121 min walk • Lac de Grandval is a lake in Cantal, France. At an elevation of 742 m, its surface area is 11 km². The lake lies in the communes of Alleuze, Faverolles and Fridefont; at its western end is the hydroelectric dam, between Lavastrie and Fridefont.
5.8 miNW
Church
St. Vincent Church, Saint-Flour
149 min walk • The former chapel of the Dominicans, which became the church of Saint-Vincent in the 19th century, is a Gothic building of southern type located in Saint-Flour, Cantal, France. It has a single nave ending in a three-sided apse.
2.6 miSW
Forts and castles
Château du Chassan
67 min walk • The Chassan castle is a castle located in the commune of Faverolles in the Cantal, in the region of Saint-Flour.
1.8 miNW
Locality
Anglards-de-Saint-Flour
47 min walk • Anglards-de-Saint-Flour is a commune in the Cantal department in the Auvergne region in south-central France.
3.2 miSE
Locality
Loubaresse
83 min walk • Loubaresse is a former municipality located in the Cantal department in Auvergne, southern France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune Val-d'Arcomie.