The other day when I was returning to Paris from Avignon, I chose to go over to the A75 (free!) autoroute instead of the standard, boring, overcrowded A7. And this time I finally stopped to see the Viaduc de Garabit in the Cevennes. You can see it from the autoroute without getting off, but hey, since it has its own exit, I figured that it was time to get a closer look.

It was built in 1885 using innovative iron construction techniques and inspired the later iron structure in Paris. It is a rail freight bridge and it is still in use today.

There were quite a few very nice looking hotels in rural isolation along the road, so those of you looking for out of the way places in deepest France might consider spending a night in the area.

Here is my short report: http://tinyurl.com/2f7d5kk

Fascinating bridge. It kind of reminds me of the woven straw motif of the Pompidou Center in Metz, from your trip report.

Did you price houses in any sleepy villages?

Another reason to drive through France----so many fascinating stops.

Fantastic photography Kerouac. Merci.

Neat. Not so sure I would have painted it that colour

There is always a feast for the eye in Paris!!

Michel, interesting enough, the information board near the bridge said that after something like 60 years of being painted grey, the bridge had been returned to its "original color."

Those high iron bridges always look so frail and delicate for all the weight they have to support. A real testament to the technology of the day.

It was Eiffel's bridge, no?

Yes, Gustave designed it.

Trivia (without knowing the answer)..what else did he design that is still standing?

The Saigon post office is magnificent. There are tons of things all over the place that he designed, but it is really quite difficult sometimes to distinguish what he did personally and what his company did.

Eiffage and Eiffel are still going strong - for example, Eiffage built the Viaduc de Millau

kerouac, beautiful bridge. Thanks for sharing!

I believe Eiffel was responsible for the insides of the Statue of Liberty.