The Viaduc de Garabit

[Deleted]

Just a small postcard about the Viaduc de Garabit, which was the most famous viaduct in France until the Viaduc de Millau was built. Coincidentally, both of them are on the A75 autoroute. The Viaduc de Millau is actually part of the autoroute, but the Viaduc de Garabit can merely be spotted right along it as you pass by, because it is actually a bridge for a rail freight line.

Since I was not in too much of a hurry yesterday, I decided to leave the autoroute to get a closer look for once. Quite a few other holidaymakers seemed to have the same idea. It's not much of a stop, but it's a good place to take a short break. So what's the big deal, besides the fact that it is a lovely part of France full of hotels and restaurants where you can spend your time pleasantly as the world passes you by?

Well, it is a graceful aerial construction, but the designer is what made the bridge famous. In 1885, there were still people to say that a little iron bridge would never be able to support the weight of all of the freight trains that use it. He proved that they were wrong, and 125 years later, the viaduct is still in service with no plans of retirement.

As for the designer, he went on to build a big tower in Paris in 1889, and that one is also still in use.

And then it was time to hit the road again...

[bixaorellana]

Beautiful presentation, and it really brings home the miracle of one man's spark of inspiration and how it played out in the world.

Yet again you've shared how much even the "lesser" aspects of travel can add to the pleasure.

[fumobici]

Mr. Eiffel obviously did his sums correctly. People think of steel/iron being relatively ephemeral due to rust as an engineering material but it can last for centuries. In thick sections the oxide coating that forms actually protects the substrate.

Aesthetically... I'm not sure what to think of this span. It's impressive of course and I'll look at it once and see it as very pleasing- then I'll look again and think it looks merely utilitarian.

[Deleted]

I think that this one was indeed utilitarian -- a freight bridge in the middle of nowhere. What is interesting is that the tower 4 years later did not have many extra frills but seemed frivilous just because it had no real purpose. If radio transmission had not been quickly invented, it would indeed have been torn down on schedule.

[fumobici]

Question on pronunciation: How is the first vowel sound in Eiffel most natively pronounced? I've heard "eye" "ee" and "eh" in more or less increasing order of use- all from the mouths of French people!

[Deleted]

Ignore the I -- the pronunciation is Effel... or F L.

[hwinpp]

Which river does the bridge span?

[Deleted]

It crosses the Truyère, an affluent of the Lot. (Yes, I had to look it up.)