This year, alongside the Château de Chenonceau, the ramparts of Guérande, the amphitheatre of Arles and the citadel of Calvi, it’s a viaduct that will be representing us… and what a structure it is! At first glance, it’s easy to make the connection: yes, it’ s a 90º Eiffel Tower!
The Garabit Viaduct, the monument with the world’s best-known little sister
It’s not easy to shine when your sister’s name is the Eiffel Tower! That’s right, it was our very own Gustave Eiffel who designed the plans for this other iron giant, which has been spanning the Truyère river in the Cantal region of France for 140 years. Built between 1880 and 1884 to link Paris and Béziers by train, it took all the architect’s genius to complete this titanic challenge. The proportions, for the time, were unbelievable: 564 meters long (1.5 times the Eiffel Tower) and 122 meters high, for nearly 3,500 tons of steel. Quite simply, it was the world’s largest viaduct at the time!
The viaduct was listed as a historic monument in 1965. Like Cluny Abbey, it is currently competing for the precious sesame of UNESCO World Heritage status, as is the Basilica of Vezelay. Today, it’s possible to take a guided tour of the site during the summer months. The museum at its foot is open all year round. And don’t forget that the beautiful Cantal region has everything you need in the way of leisure activities and gastronomy for a full weekend away from Lyon (3 h by car).
A monument chosen to represent the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in 2025
It’s not easy to sum up the region’s rich architectural heritage in a single monument. In Lyon, there’s already plenty to do, so on a regional scale, it’s a real headache! The Garabit viaduct, a monument resolutely audacious in its architecture and dimensions, is perhaps the perfect example: original in its avant-gardism and, thanks to its inventor, a symbol for all French people.
Who will dethrone the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit, last year’s big winner? Alea jacta est… – the die is cast! Voting closed this weekend. The results will be announced on September 20, on the occasion of the 42ᵉ European Heritage Days. After sweeping the board for the first time in this year’s French Favourite Village competition, will our beloved region pull off a double in 2025? Drum roll…