GARABIT VIADUCT

The Garabit viaduct and the Truyère gorges are closely linked. The imposing metal structure is anchored on either side of the Truyère, a river that has carved out its bed in a sumptuous, multi-faceted valley. In the 1870s, it was decided to extend the railroad line southwards, linking Paris to Béziers. The construction of a viaduct became a necessity! Dressed in poinsettia red, the Garabit viaduct towers 122 m above the river, spanning it for 564.69 m. In this mineral environment, the viaduct unfurls its iron lace. Designed by Léon Boyer and Gustave Eiffel, it took four years to build (1880-1884), using innovative techniques for the time that were also used for the Eiffel Tower. The bridge in figures: 3,169 tonnes of iron, 41 tonnes of steel, 23 tonnes of cast iron, 15 tonnes of lead, 678,768 rivets and 20,370^m3 of masonry, an impressive amount for a giant that was the world record for height in its day. It has only been listed as a historic monument since 2017, and is also the subject, along with the Viaur viaduct, of a Unesco candidacy procedure. In addition to its exceptional construction site, Garabit is still one of the most remarkable engineering structures ever built. At night, it shines with a thousand lights!

Viewpoints for admiring the Viaduc de Garabit: In Garabit, from the road bridge over the Truyère (D 909); from the rest area on the A75 freeway that bears its name, 15 minutes from Saint-Flour; or from the superb restaurant of the Hôtel Le Beau Site.

Exhibitions relating to the book. Permanent exhibition at the Maison du Cantal (all year, every day) at the Garabit rest area on the A75 freeway between Saint-Flour and Ruynes-en-Margeride; "Le Géant de la Truyère" exhibition (June to September) at the Pierre Allègre farm, part of the Margeride ecomuseum, in Loubaresse.

Activities in the surrounding area. The Truyère has been transformed into a hydroelectric reservoir, and new activities have sprung up as the seasons go by. A tourist destination in its own right, the Truyère valley has plenty to surprise you. Whether you're looking for an adrenalin rush or a sense of wonder, you'll find plenty to do here! Fishing, water sports, rock-climbing, hiking, tree-climbing and horse-riding are just some of the activities you can enjoy in the vicinity of the viaduct that sits at the center of this natural area.

An exceptional site in an exceptional setting! A destination for the whole family.