Fades viaduct
Encyclopedia
The Fades Viaduct is a railway viaduct in the Puy-de-Dôme
department, central France
. At the time of its inauguration on 10 October 1909, it was the tallest bridge in the world, across all categories. Actually it still is (as of 2010) the tenth tallest railway viaduct in the world.
, in the Auvergne
region, between the communes of Sauret-Besserve
and Les Ancizes-Comps. It spans across the river Sioule
. It's construction began on 28 October 1901. From 14 to 16 September 1909 it passed the performance tests, using a fully loaded train which weight exceeded 1075 tons. It was opened on 10 October 1909, and put into service ten days later.
What makes the Fades Viaduct exceptional is its monumental piers of quarried granite. Towering over 92 m they remain the highest bridge piers ever built in traditional masonry. They have a base larger than a tennis court.
Puy-de-Dôme
Puy-de-Dôme is a department in the centre of France named after the famous dormant volcano, the Puy-de-Dôme.Inhabitants were called Puydedomois until December 2005...
department, central France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. At the time of its inauguration on 10 October 1909, it was the tallest bridge in the world, across all categories. Actually it still is (as of 2010) the tenth tallest railway viaduct in the world.
Overview
The Fades Viaduct is located close to Les Ancizes-CompsLes Ancizes-Comps
Les Ancizes-Comps is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France.-References:*...
, in the Auvergne
Auvergne (région)
Auvergne is one of the 27 administrative regions of France. It comprises the 4 departments of Allier, Puy de Dome, Cantal and Haute Loire.The current administrative region of Auvergne is larger than the historical province of Auvergne, and includes provinces and areas that historically were not...
region, between the communes of Sauret-Besserve
Sauret-Besserve
Sauret-Besserve is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France.-References:*...
and Les Ancizes-Comps. It spans across the river Sioule
Sioule
The Sioule is a long river in central France, left tributary of the river Allier. Its source is near the village Orcival, north of Mont-Dore, in the Massif Central. The Sioule has cut a deep gorge, especially in its upper course...
. It's construction began on 28 October 1901. From 14 to 16 September 1909 it passed the performance tests, using a fully loaded train which weight exceeded 1075 tons. It was opened on 10 October 1909, and put into service ten days later.
What makes the Fades Viaduct exceptional is its monumental piers of quarried granite. Towering over 92 m they remain the highest bridge piers ever built in traditional masonry. They have a base larger than a tennis court.
External links
- The world's highest bridges http://www.highestbridges.com/
- Association Sioule & Patrimoine - 63390 Sauret-Besserve (France) http://viaduc.fades.free.fr
- Building the World's Loftiest Bridge By F. A. Talbot